Man jailed over Cleveland home repair

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Group has sparked new developments in the circumstance of a male despatched to jail for not correcting up a home. Our initially report sparked a firestorm and that has led to motion.

This week, we uncovered the case of Jeffrey Ivey. Cleveland Housing Court docket Judge Mona Scott sent him to jail for 90 days for not producing repairs to a property on East Boulevard.

“I really don’t imagine the crime suits the punishment.” Ivey advised us from driving bars.

Now, Cleveland Councilman Kevin Conwell says he and community ministers are having included.

“I want the house taken care of, but he desires to be out,” Conwell said.

We’ve reported that Ivey has been requested to make repairs given that 2019. No a person life at that house and the councilman suggests neighbors have complained.

We typically see violent criminals permitted again on your streets, but this led to jail time.

Folks looking at this case have questioned how quite a few large landlords in fact get punished.

“Got to attempt to determine out if he sat in jail for 90 days, it’s heading to be tough for him to pay back to have his assets,” Councilman Conwell mentioned.

Civil rights legal professional Marcus Sidoti is also now stepping up to assist.

“We’re talking to Mr. Ivey and we prepare on having this case professional bono,” he told the I-Crew. “I recognize he’s attempting his ideal, so we hope to aid him and hope to rectify in hopes he keeps his home and can help out his relatives.”

Ivey has mentioned he struggled to make the repairs purchased by housing courtroom even even though operating a freelance task and a part-time occupation.

Cleveland Council President Blaine Griffin claims he, much too, is heading to attempt and assistance Ivey. Griffin is examining to see if there are any federal government packages that can support shell out for the property repairs.

Meanwhile, at the Cuyahoga County Corrections Middle, we puzzled how frequently housing court docket sends anyone to jail. We asked how several situations it occurred past calendar year. The county tells us the jail does not retain any documents that way, so we have submitted various requests for court records to uncover out.

Thursday, we also went seeking, yet again, for Choose Scott.

The first day we attempted to get to her, we had been told she experienced a whole working day of instances. The second day, we uncovered an empty courtroom. We ended up instructed the judge was not in the setting up.

By phone, the housing court administrator told us, “You do not barge down listed here. No one reveals up and demands just about anything.”

But now, far more and more men and women are inquiring thoughts, not just the I-Group.

We will adhere to up with what takes place future following the new attorney, council members and ministers continue on to get concerned.