TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1999

Zagustin serves full jail sentence

By Sharon Christensen

On-Line Forty-Niner

Cal State Long Beach civil engineering professor Elena Zagustin will serve all five days of her sentence for contempt of court, said an office clerk of the Orange County Central Jail.

Zagustin, who entered the Orange County jail in Santa Ana on Wednesday night, will not be released early because of the nature of the violation, said Debbie, who declined to give her last name.

She is due to be released after midnight on the fifth day, according to the clerk.

"As soon as it hits midnight on the last day, they start kicking them out," the clerk said.

The clerk said Zagustin might stay longer than her five days. The jail runs warrant checks on the inmate upon entering as well as at the time of release. If there are any outstanding warrants found at the time of release, the inmate is retained, said the clerk.

Zagustin was found in contempt of court during a civil trial filed by her Huntington Harbour neighbors.

Currently on sabbatical from CSULB, Zagustin will continue her sabbatical until the end of this academic year, said Gale Baker, counsel with CSULB's public affairs office. In order to justify her sabbatical, Zagustin must prove her time has been spent in academic pursuits. Baker said Zagustin submitted her application for sabbatical with a proposal for research entitled, "Dynamic Response of Non-Linear Structures due to Earthquake Loads."

When asked about the progress of Zagustin's research, Baker said a report on the work is not due until Oct. 1.

"It is not the case that we normally get any kind of progress report," said Baker.

Although Zagustin's name has not been removed from the civil engineering department's directory, posted just inside the door to the building farthest north, her name has been removed from her office door.