Petersburg Wins Case Against Blight
The Travel Inn at 530 E. Washington Street has been vacant, and the owner of the building has been violating codes relating to the condition of the building for some time.
Travel Inn owner Katumbh LLC, Santokh Singh, appeared before the Petersburg General District Court for trial on charges of Failure to Secure a Vacant Building, Storage of Combustibles in a Vacant Structure, and Failure to Maintain a Fire Alarm and Sprinkler System at the Travel Inn.
Singh was represented in this case by the Petersburg Public Defender’s Office. During the trial, Petersburg City Attorney Anthony Williams argued that Assistant Fire Marshal Jeffrey Flemming had recently brought similar charges with subsequent convictions of Singh in Petersburg General District Court for the building. Williams argued that the disabled fire alarm and sprinkler system constituted a significant danger to citizens and public safety personnel who may be called to enter the building in the event of a fire.
The Honorable Chief Judge Ray Lupold, III agreed and sentenced Singh to a total of thirty-six months in jail (twelve months on each of the charges), suspending six months on the two of the charges and eight months on the remaining one.
“Given the failure of this defendant to correct the issues on the property and the dangerous nature of the violations, the Judge’s decision was fair and appropriate,” said Anthony Williams, Petersburg City Attorney.
“The court ruling is in the best interests of our citizens and furthers the City’s ongoing efforts to eliminate blight and revitalize Petersburg,” said Mayor Sam Parham. “Petersburg appreciates the Court’s understanding of the magnitude of the many dilapidated and dangerous structures like this one and hopes that the City’s continued efforts through Fire and Code Enforcement and the City Attorney’s Office will encourage owners to bring their properties into compliance with the law.”
