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Judge hands out stiff penalties for pot houses

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Contributed by: John Mlynar on 7/22/2008

A Superior Court judge recently handed down $25,000 in civil penalties and permanent injunctions to three Palmdale property owners that used their property, or allowed their property to be used, as large-scale marijuana grows.

"According to the ruling, the homeowners are permanently prohibited from using, operating or maintaining their property, or any other location in the city to manufacture, cultivate, sell, store, distribute any controlled substance," said Palmdale City Attorney Matt Ditzhazy. "They also cannot use, operate or maintain their property, or any other location in a manner which violates the Palmdale Municipal Code, the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, or any other law, and cannot rent, lease or sublease their property, or any other location in the city, to persons who have been convicted of any drug or controlled substance-related crime."

In addition to the $25,000 penalty, the homeowners were ordered to reimburse the city of Palmdale for all costs and attorney fees.

"These cost and fee awards range from $9,343.75 to $13,091.50," said Ditzhazy, "and are to be paid on or before Sept. 1, 2008."

"The pot houses were busted by Partners Against Crime (PAC) deputies in 2007," said Deputy City Attorney Noel Doran. "Since then, the city's code enforcement division and the City Attorney's Office have been working diligently to stop the neighborhood nuisance caused by these properties."

"The judge's decision validates all of the diligent work the Sheriff's Department and the city of Palmdale have put into keeping our neighborhoods safe," said Mayor Jim Ledford.

"This decision sends a message to property owners that they are responsible for what occurs on their property and that the city will hold them accountable for allowing their properties to be used to flood the streets with illegal drugs and endanger our neighborhoods," added Deputy City Attorney Noel Doran.

"The city of Palmdale will not tolerate single-family houses to be used as drug factories and we will continue to bring civil actions against all property owners that allow their properties to become a nuisance to the community," Ditzhazy said.

For more information, contact Doran in the City Attorney's Office at 661-267-5108.

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