Convicted Va. property owner may serve 70-day sentence in own building, said to be a first

With the sort of bold gambit that is sure to get the attention of the city's other slumlords, Assistant City Attorney Greg Lukanuski asked fdr his morning a novel sentencing approach for recently cocted property owner Oliver Lawrence. Echoing the 1991 movie “The Super”, Mr. Lawrence will spend his 70 day sentence under ‘house arrest’ in one of his own properties, in addition to paying $176,000 in fines. While the tactic has been used in other court cases around the country, it is believed to be a first for Virginia.

In 1985, a Beverly Hills doctor had to serve 30 days in the public jail as well as 30 days in one of his properties. Deputy City Attorney Stephanie Sautner, who prosecuted the case, told the Los Angeles Times, "If landlords fear that they would have to live in the same squalor they impose on some of their tenants, they just might think twice before allowing their apartments to deteriorate to such a level."

In New York, a notorious landlord drew a $137,000 fine and was greeted by tenants when he began his fifteen days of house arrest with a sign saying “Welcome You Reptile”. Another New York judge offering the choice between the city’s infamous Rikers Island jail and house arrest for another landlord said that she should determine: "whether she is more desirous to be in this apartment than Rikers Island, which I suspect is a close call.”

The lengthy, but successful effort, to bring Lawrence to justice does not end here, however. His many other properties in Hanover, Petersburg and Henrico also face scrutiny, as building officials from those jurisdictions are sharing information with Richmond. In addition, talks are underway with just re-elected Richmond Sheriff C. T. Woody about Mr. Lawrence also participating alongside the inmate work crews cleaning vacant lots as part of his incarceration.

This may be the first use of the house arrest alternative for a property case, but staff in Code Enforcement hope it won’t be the last, as they cntinue to make headwtay on controlling blight. The case was continued until Monday the 9th.