Tens of millions of {dollars} in fines for unpermitted home renovations. Unexplained loans towards the property, and a thriller investor who might or might not be an actual individual. Repeated Fifth Modification claims by the defendant, who represented himself in courtroom.
The three-day civil code-enforcement trial of Bessmon “Ben” Kalasho ended Wednesday, after the previous El Cajon council member managed to suspend a bench warrant issued for his arrest two years in the past in an unrelated case.
Kalasho, who was elected in 2016 and quit in midterm simply over two years later, was sued in 2023 by the town he beforehand served, accused of constructing unpermitted enhancements to his house on Cliffdale Street.
He left San Diego County shortly after resigning in 2019 and ultimately arrange store as an govt chef in a private castle for lease in rural North Carolina.
All of the whereas, El Cajon code-enforcement officers demanded repairs and upgrades to what they mentioned was an unlawful attic dwelling and rental, together with unpermitted stairs, decking, electrical and plumbing work all through the four-story A-frame.
However the upgrades and inspections demanded by the town went unaddressed for years, and El Cajon officers started issuing fines.
The penalties started at $100 a day however had been successively raised to 1000’s of {dollars} a day as Kalasho failed to reply, the town mentioned. They now exceed $2.5 million, greater than twice the worth of the house.
Kalasho insists he by no means acquired the various notices mailed to the Fletcher Hills house or posted on the entrance door. He mentioned he’s being singled out for persecution on account of an uncivil relationship along with his former council colleagues.
“That is all political,” Kalasho mentioned in his closing assertion to the courtroom. “They preserve coming at me with various things. It’ll by no means finish. They’re going to be coming after me for years.”
Legal professionals representing the town mentioned Kalasho ignored and prevented the code-enforcement calls for for years, positioned his property right into a belief managed by a fictitious individual and shielded it by means of at the least two different firms.
They mentioned Kalasho and his spouse Jessica rented out the property — and nonetheless do — regardless of circumstances that current a critical public-safety hazard.
“Mr. and Mrs. Kalasho are benefiting from the tenancy,” mentioned Steven Boehmer, one of many legal professionals representing El Cajon. “They’re placing folks probably in danger. We don’t know of the standard of labor that’s been finished.”
Town needs the fines paid in full and the property positioned into receivership so it may be inspected and repaired as wanted. Officers additionally need Kalasho to pay their lawyer charges, investigative prices and different bills.
Kalasho had a contentious two-plus years on the Metropolis Council. He clashed recurrently with the council majority and was criticized for tending to his cellular phone throughout public conferences.
Greater than as soon as he overtly bickered with different elected officers. The council additionally needed to revote on a number of issues that Kalasho voted on on account of his accepting funds from firms with enterprise pursuits earlier than the town.
This week, in a code-enforcement case that even Decide Joel Wohlfeil mentioned was atypical, legal professionals for El Cajon mentioned Kalasho deeded a part of the house to a trust controlled by Maximilian Von Ayers — an individual they mentioned didn’t exist and is definitely Kalasho.
They referred to as a former tenant to testify, amongst different issues, that he beforehand had spoken to Von Ayers over the cellphone and the voice on the opposite finish of the road sounded similar to Kalasho did in courtroom.
Kalasho, in the meantime, exercised his constitutional proper towards self-incrimination by refusing to say even that he knew or had ever spoken to Von Ayers. He additionally declined to reply questions on Israel Moses Seiff LLC and Navy Federal Credit score Union, which personal a part of the home.
“I’m going to invoke my Fifth Modification privilege,” he testified.
Kalasho and his spouse have been sued earlier than.
In an unrelated 2017 civil case alleging fraud, defamation and different claims, they had been accused of rigging a magnificence pageant sponsored by Kalasho by means of his for-profit chamber of commerce, creating pretend social media accounts to criticize rivals and pasting faces of others onto images of nude ladies earlier than posting these on-line.
One of many plaintiffs’ legal professionals, who gained a $300,000 judgment however has been unable to gather, accused Kalasho of hiding his belongings by submitting false information with the county assessor. One other secured bench warrants for the Kalashos’ arrest after displaying they had been in San Diego regardless of their declare they may not attend courtroom in individual.
Ben and Jessica Kalasho in 2023 had been sentenced to eight days in jail for contempt of courtroom, however each the warrants and jail phrases had been stayed throughout this week’s code-enforcement trial so they may defend themselves in courtroom.
The trial, begun Monday, was held with out the advantage of a jury, that means Wohlfeil will decide find out how to resolve it.
The choose directed either side to submit a closing transient subsequent month and mentioned he would concern a ruling quickly after reviewing them. He additionally indicated he was more likely to order the house introduced into compliance and to scale back the penalties assessed.
“You’ll have been a lightning rod at metropolis corridor, no query,” Wohlfeil instructed Kalasho on the finish of the trial. “However there does seem like substantial proof of violations.”
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