Landlord Charged for Violations in Highland Park

The Office of Los Angeles City Attorney on Monday filed multiple criminal charges against a Los Angeles man for creating unsafe living conditions in two properties he owned, including one in Highland Park, the Los Angeles Times reports.

John Callaghan, 58, is charged with 53 criminal counts, which include public safety violations for non-permitted electrical and plumbing work, unsafe structural alterations, and failure to maintain fire and safety standards.

Investigators from the City Attorney's office observed the violations between January 9 and February 27 of 2012 at Callaghan's 5101 Granada St. property in Highland Park, as well as at another dwelling located at 443-445 W. 49th St. in South Los Angeles.

The City Attorney's Office alleges that Callaghan--without the permission of the city--converted the single family dwelling on Granada St. into 14 rental units by illegally converting the garage, basement and recreation room into habitable rooms.

The city's Building and Safety Department also cited Callaghan for illegal plumbing work, illegal installation of gas wall heaters, and for keeping excessive trash, debris vegetation on the property.

According to the Los Angeles Times, emergency evictions notices have been issued to the tenants living at the property in South Los Angeles, where Callaghan allegedly compromised the structural safety of the dwelling by converting it into 44 rental units and failed to supply fire extinguishers and up-to-date smoke detectors.

Emergency eviction notices have not yet been issued to residents at the Granada Street property, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Update:

According to the California Secretary of State, Callaghan is listed as the owner of To Aid and Assist Everybody in Owning a Home, a corporation he formed in February 2001. The businesses address is listed at 5101 Granada St. in Highland Park, the same adress where the Attorney General alleges the violations occured.

The Secretary of State's office lists the the corporation's current status as "suspended."