Community | November 23, 2009 | 17 comments

Shelter the Homeless go to jail

source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/san-luis-obispo-rancher-sentenced-to-jail-for-...

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A San Luis Obispo rancher who for years has illegally housed homeless people was ordered today to serve 90 days in jail.
A defiant Dan de Vaul stretched out his arms and let deputies place handcuffs on him before being led out of the San Luis Obispo courtroom. The 66-year-old defendant was offered probation after a jury convicted him in September of two misdemeanor violations of building and safety codes at his Sunny Acres ranch.

But De Vaul refused the terms of his probation because he said it would mean he could no longer provide shelter for about 30 people who reside in his sober-living facility. For eight years, he’s operated the program on his 72-acre ranch, housing clients in mobile homes, tents, garden sheds and an aging Victorian home.

For a time, he also housed people in a three-story stucco barracks until it was shut down last year.

“The first condition of probation is obey all laws,” De Vaul said before the hearing, which was attended by about 30 of his supporters. “I’m proud to go to jail for housing the homeless.”

Superior Court Judge John Trice said San Luis Obispo officials have repeatedly offered to help De Vaul bring his property up to code. But De Vaul has declined all attempts at help, Trice said.

“Such conduct can only be viewed as irresponsible and arrogant,” the judge said before sentencing him to jail.

De Vaul was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/san-luis-obispo-rancher-sentenced-...
  1. groups:
    Community,   Current Tonight,   Law and Justice
  2. tags:
    News and Politics,  California,  Homeless,  outragious
  3.     
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17 comments // Shelter the Homeless go to jail

  • rhubarb64
    • 0
      rhubarb64  

    • I am curious as to why he refused help in bringing the place up to code. I am sure, like probation, there must have been restrictive strings attached. Good for him for not taking probation though so that he could keep doing what he feels is the right thing to do.

    • 2 years ago
  • hcice
    • 0
      hcice  

    • As we all know, it is better for someone to be homeless and without shelter than to live in someplace that isn't "up to code" to the government. The government needs to let people live where they want to live, or where they can afford to live.

    • 2 years ago
  • SirSalem
  • Saladin
  • marioee
    • 0
      marioee  

    • People helping people might put you in jail but why is their local government not helping him out instead of putting him away. Besides hes doing the work for them.

    • 2 years ago
  • pukemnukem
  • jswiz
  • isnamthere
    • 0
      isnamthere  

    • How bad were the conditions at Dan de Vaul's ranch? Were they worse than living under a bridge somewhere? Worse than living on the street out of a cardboard box?

    • 2 years ago
  • hammywill
    • 0
      hammywill  

    • What were the terms and conditions of the "help" the City Officials offered to help bring the property up to code. Unless I knew this, I could not make a judgment about this guy. I will say this though, having been homeless in my life...any shelter is better than no shelter and this man was doing them a favor. This is a waste of the courts time and resources.

    • 2 years ago
  • SirSalem
    • 0
      SirSalem  
    • hammywill:

      I have to agree with you...this was a waste of the court's resources. It is sad that they choose to prosecute this man. I wondering how much cooperation they had with him in trying to assist him. In the end, he was saving them and the tax payers money by doing a noble service.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
  • SirSalem
    • 0
      SirSalem  

    • You got to give this guy some props from what I can tell from the story. It is sad they had to send him to jail, but I'm glad he stood up for what he believes in.

    • 2 years ago
  • EdJoyProductions
  • Ihatethemall
    • 0
      Ihatethemall  
    • EdJoyProductions:

      Did you not read the entire? It clearly states..........Superior Court Judge John Trice said San Luis Obispo officials have repeatedly offered to help De Vaul bring his property up to code. But De Vaul has declined all attempts at help, Trice said.

      “Such conduct can only be viewed as irresponsible and arrogant,” the judge said before sentencing him to jail.

      I first thought the judges and DA's were the assholes but after reading all of the article it seems like he is the shithead. I dont know what the conditions were of the help they were offering but they at least offered it

    • 2 years ago
  • EdJoyProductions
    • 0
      EdJoyProductions  
    • EdJoyProductions:

      Of course they are going to say that. Maybe they actually did or maybe they didn't but needed to say something when the story hit the paper. From personal experience, I think it was an after thought to save face after more attention was paid to it than they thought would be. I could be wrong, but I could be right. I don't put a whole lot of faith into things officials spout when they get caught doing something messed up.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
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