Sex Offender House Dispute Likely Heading To Court

Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:01 am

Sex Offender House Dispute Likely Heading To Court

Published: Oct 2, 2006

TAMPA - A code enforcement case involving a Seminole Heights boardinghouse occupied by sex offenders appears headed to court.

Ethan Loeb, an attorney for property owner Helen Pridgen, said he expects to appeal the $100 daily fines imposed on his client for not allowing 24-hour-a-day unannounced inspections.

In August, Tampa's code enforcement board found Pridgen guilty of having more than five unrelated people living in the house, 1303 New Orleans Ave. Pridgen, whose boardinghouse license expired in 2002, agreed to unannounced visits by inspectors for 30 days.

After no violations were found during numerous visits, both day and night, Loeb notified the city about two weeks ago that inspectors would be barred from entering. He said the inspections were bordering on harassment.

Loeb also asked the board for a rehearing to consider additional evidence and to withdraw its finding against Pridgen, who also operates the Solid Rock Church of Jesus Inc., 2746 N. Florida Ave.

Since the August hearing, inspectors say only five people have been seen at the house.

On Wednesday, the code enforcement board denied Pridgen a rehearing. The board's order regarding inspections remained in dispute, however, because the city and Loeb recently negotiated modified inspection hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Kathy Steele

http://news.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBAI5IDSSE.html