Zach Despart

Free Press Staff Writer

A Burlington landlord pleaded not guilty Thursday to 88 criminal charges related to scores of alleged housing violations at his four city properties, City Attorney Eileen Blackwood said.

"We cited him for failure to comply with inspection orders related to violations of the minimum housing code," Blackwood said.

Soon Kwon, the property owner, remains defiant — and he targeted City Hall with a publicity stunt, performing his own "inspection" of the building and noting numerous deficiencies.

The criminal charges open the newest chapter in a years-long dispute between Burlington officials and Kwon regarding numerous housing violations at his properties. In January, Code Enforcement Director Bill Ward said Kwon had about 90 outstanding violations.

Kwon owns four apartment buildings in Burlington: 34 Colchester Ave., 40-42 Colchester Ave., 66-68 South Union St. and 41 South Willard St. As of January, all had outstanding code violations, Ward said. Some date back several years.

Kwon, who has given several interviews to the Burlington Free Press since last summer, declined to comment Thursday. Ward, the code enforcement head, said he could not comment because he likely will serve as a state's witness in the case.

In past interviews, Ward has described Kwon as one of several problem landlords in Burlington whose properties tax the resources of housing inspectors.

Kwon faces a possible $500 fine and 30 days in jail for each count — a total of $44,000 in fines and more than seven years in prison if convicted on all 88 counts. Blackwood said the 88-count complaint, which is hundreds of pages long, is the first time she has brought a landlord to criminal court.

Landlord strikes back

On the eve of his arraignment, Kwon lashed out at the city. In a news release Wednesday, Kwon's lawyer Will Towle said Kwon on Jan. 29 conducted a mock inspection of City Hall — and issued the city a failing grade.

Towle said his client 'cited' the city for peeling paint, cracked plaster, chipped doors, piled up rubbish and deteriorated ceilings.

Towle said the violations were similar to those identified by the city's Code Enforcement department at Kwon's four Burlington properties.

"Obviously we're trying to make a point," Towle said in the statement. "Code Enforcement has forgotten its job is building safety, not trivial cosmetic issues."

Kwon criticized Code Enforcement for citing him for violations he sees as frivolous, such as missing lamp shades and a broken toilet-paper dispenser. Kwon said he has "worked on all the valid issues raised by the inspectors."

Kwon told the Burlington Free Press last fall he intends to fix only violations he agrees with.

Housing inspectors in the past have cited Kwon for violations including faulty wiring, broken plumbing, defective heating and a pigeon infestation. Ward believes some of these issues present health and safety concerns to tenants.

In the news release, Kwon said he felt targeted by Ward.

"I don't like being bullied," Kwon wrote. "I've stood up for myself and that makes me a target."

In multiple interviews with the Burlington Free Press since last summer, Ward has denied singling out Kwon.

Frustrated that Kwon has yet to correct violations at his properties, Ward in September referred Kwon's case to City Attorney Blackwood for prosecution.

By law, a landlord can be charged with a misdemeanor for failing to comply with an order from the Code Enforcement director.

Blackwood said she cited Kwon on Jan. 28. In his news release, Kwon said he looked forward to his day in court.

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Contact Zach Despart at 651-4826 or zdespart@burlingtonfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ZachDespart.