Couple Face Slum Counts for 2nd Time Within Year

For the second time in less than a year, a couple were charged Thursday with maintaining slum conditions at apartment buildings they own. Arthur W. Highley, 79, and his wife, Virginia, 68, were charged with 24 misdemeanor violations of various fire, health, and building and safety codes at a four-story, 37-unit apartment building at 1219-1221 N. Vermont Ave. in Hollywood.

City Atty. James K. Hahn said the substandard conditions at the building included no heat, missing smoke detectors and fire-escape ladders, defective plumbing and cockroach and rodent infestation.

The Highleys were charged last May with maintaining slum conditions at a three-story, 35-unit apartment house at 1316 S. Los Angeles St. Arthur Highley pleaded no contest in that case in November and was placed on three years’ informal probation and given until Jan. 30 to repair conditions at the building. Charges against his wife were dismissed after he entered his no contest pleas.