Mother, Son in Contempt on Sunland ‘Flophouses’

A mother and son have been found in contempt of court for failing to comply with a court order that they clean up property where two “flophouses” for drug users are located, authorities said Tuesday.

Virginia J. Stevens, of Tujunga, who owns the small houses in the 10500 block of Jardine Avenue in Sunland, and her son, Robert Stevens, 41, who lives on the property, could each face a 10-day jail term and a $2,000 fine, Deputy City Atty. Pamela A. Albers said.

But Albers said she will not seek jail time for the pair, who are to be sentenced May 2, if they clean up the property. The Stevenses will be allowed to show evidence that the violations have been corrected before the sentencing, Albers said.

Superior Court Judge Philip M. Saeta found the Stevenses in contempt of court Monday.

They were the target of a lawsuit by the city attorney’s office in September seeking restrictions that would stop the use and sales of drugs and the accumulation of trash on the property. Officials said the suit was prompted by complaints from neighbors and came in the wake of six drug arrests on the property last year.

In October, a judge issued a preliminary injunction that barred transients from living in the two houses. That order also required that the property be kept clear of trash and other debris.

Albers said the Stevenses violated that injunction at least twice in February. On those occasions, detectives found transients on the property and discovered large amounts of trash in the yard, Albers said.

“There was garbage all around--this place was the biggest junkyard,” Albers said. “People were sleeping in sleeping bags all over. It was basically a flophouse and a place where people could do their drugs.”

Seven transients were found living on the property on one visit by authorities, she said.

“This has been a situation that has gone on in that neighborhood for four years,” she said.

Virginia Stevens is selling the property, Albers said. “We just want to make sure it gets cleaned up before it is sold,” she said.