Asheville tenant asks for help

Editors, Asheville Global Report,

In early September I was thrown in the Asheville jail for an assault that never occurred. My illegal Asheville landlords (they never had a certificate of occupancy) lied because they were angry with me for reporting them to the city. Also, I was moving out and they would be losing rent money. Besides sending me to jail, they stole my personal belongings and turned off the utilities even though the electric was in my name. They messed with the power box in the basement and kept the door locked. The landlords lived across the street, but disconnected their phone and had a fence with dogs, refusing to talk with me after shutting off the water and electric. I lived there for a few years without problems until I insisted that the roof be fixed. When I first moved in the ceiling was leaking. The landlord had promised to fix it, but nothing had ever been done and it needed immediate attention. Also, the refrigerator died over the summer and had not been replaced. The stove only half worked.

They would not let us into the house to collect our personal belongings and the cops were getting tired of being escorts. There was a false address for me and phone number on the arrest warrant. At one point the landlords claimed they never knew me. They even locked my downstairs neighbor in our upstairs apartment. Luckily, her son could come home and let her out. I am facing a possible judgment against me. I owe $350.00 for the public defender and court fees in addition to whatever money judgment I may get. There is no payment plan in criminal court. It’s all the money up front or/and supervised probation or jail. Probation also costs an extra $100.00. I am poor and can’t pay up front. I have no criminal record, but these folks seem to know how to work the system and have gotten away with a lot. Is this type of experience uncommon in Asheville? Please come to my third court date on Nov. 21 and/or share your stories.

Monique Turoff,
Asheville, NC
236-3255