BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County District Attorney's Office announced on Friday that they have resolved an environmental and consumer protection action against the owners and operators of two Union Avenue motels.
According to the D.A., Bharat Patel and Juan Angel Zazueta have agreed to entry of a final judgment that requires that they make motel improvements and pay a $26,000 restitution. An additional penalty of $150,000 was suspended on the condition that they comply with the terms of judgment.
The settlement occurred due to violations found by the Kern County Department of Environmental Health as to both the Residence Inn and the Gateway Motel.
This was the second action that the District Attorney's Office brought against Patel for the operation of the Residence Hotel. That case was settled in 2016.
Deputy District Attorney John Mitchell, who prosecuted the case stated:
"We are pleased with the settlement and cautiously optimistic that this represents a sea-change in the defendants' conduct. Our goal has always been for the defendants to comply with their legal obligations to provide safe, adequate housing for their tenants. And our office doesn't believe that the taxpayers of this county should have to bear the costs for a defendant's non-compliance. So, we are pleased that in addition to coming into compliance, the defendants will be reimbursing the county departments for the costs that were incurred in the investigation and prosecution of this case."
"We are pleased with the settlement and cautiously optimistic that this represents a sea-change in the defendants' conduct. Our goal has always been for the defendants to comply with their legal obligations to provide safe, adequate housing for their tenants. And our office doesn't believe that the taxpayers of this county should have to bear the costs for a defendant's non-compliance. So, we are pleased that in addition to coming into compliance, the defendants will be reimbursing the county departments for the costs that were incurred in the investigation and prosecution of this case."
