East Hampton Town Cracks Down: 39 Charges for 'Deplorable Conditions' in Overcrowded Rental

EAST HAMPTON, NY - East Hampton Town officials cracked down on a home where residents were living in overcrowded, "deplorable conditions," town officials said.

On Wednesday, the East Hampton Town Police Department, in conjunction with staff from the East Hampton Town code enforcement department, executed a search warrant at 105 Springs Fireplace Road in response to complaints of overcrowding and unsafe living conditions, a release from the town's ordinance enforcement office said.

“This morning’s coordinated efforts by our public safety departments uncovered deplorable conditions inside a single-family house that was being used as a multi-family residence. East Hampton Town will not tolerate landlords and sub-lessors profiteering at the expense of public safety by overcrowding tenants into illegal and unsafely configured structures,” Betsy Bambrick, director of ordinance enforcement, said.

She added that she commended staff for their efficiency in following through with procedure to obtain a search warrant and carry out the investigation "swiftly and professionally."

The search warrant and subsequent investigation determined that the house was occupied illegally by nine adults and four children, the release said.

The property owner and tenants now face 39 charges, including multiple counts of violating East Hampton Town zoning codes and New York State fire codes, town officials said.

The landlord and all the adult tenants will also be the first individuals charged under the town’s recently adopted rental registry law, town officials said.

“The self-inspection checklist that is required as part of the rental registry process would have identified all of the health and safety deficiencies at this house. The landlord’s failure to go through the process and register their rental property put all of these tenants at risk, which is something the town will simply not countenance,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell.

Inspectors issued appearance tickets to Carmen Rocio Yamba Tenezaca, 30; Jaimo Uzhca Namina, 31; Wilson Guillca-Satian, 30; Melida Yamba Tenezaca, 33; Jose Donaire, 40; Angel Uzhca, 32; Angel Maza-Namina, 32; Rafeal Felix Llauri, 23; and Moncayo Arnulfo Rivera, 27, town officials said in the release.

Charges included one count of overcrowding , one count of partial occupancy, five counts of no or inoperable smoke alarm, two counts of no carbon monoxide detector, three counts change of use or type of occupancy, three counts of no building permit, three counts of no certificate of occupancy, five counts of no egress, including blocked egress window or door, eight counts of non-compliant egress opening, one count of multi-family occupancy, one count of property maintenance, litter/debris, one count of excessive vehicles in a rental, one count of rear deck in disrepair, two counts of exposed wiring, one count of improper use of extension cords in lieu of wiring, and one count of no rental registry number.

In addition, Leslie Cooper Life Estate, owner of the property, will be charged with the same 39 counts, the release stated. All defendants are directed to appear in Town Justice Court on June 13 at noon to answer the charges, the release stated.

While on the premises, East Hampton Town Police also arrested two men on charges including violating an order of protection and an outstanding warrant for driving while intoxicated and false impersonation, the release said.