Sale postponed

By Ruth Williams
Summer Forty-Niner

Cal State Long Beach civil engineering Professor Elena Zagustin’s home is up for auction once again.

The home is expected to go on the auction block June 17 at 10 a.m., said Lt. Gary Tackett, division commander of the West Orange County Marshal’s office.  "It’s scheduled, but could be postponed," Tackett said.

The starting bid for the one-story, three-bedroom home, on the 16800 block of Morse Circle, is $270,000.  However, this is not the first time the home has been up for auction.  Zagustin managed to postpone the previous auction in April.

Zagustin was charged with 95 misdemeanor counts of violating Huntington Beach’s fire, housing, health and safety codes in October.  However, 16 of those charges were dropped by November.  She was ultimately found guilty of 69 fire, housing and municipal code violations in November.

The charges are in regard to the horrible conditions in which Zagustin lived.  Her home, in the exclusive neighborhood of Huntington Harbor, was surrounded by piles of debris, lacked running water and had exposed electrical wires.

Neighbors accused Zagustin of lowering the property value of the posh community.  Monies received from the auction will be used for payment of legal claims filed against her by neighbors.

Sources:  Lt. Gary Tackett (714) 896-7231
Sgt. Steckler (714) 896-7231
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