Park Official Punished for Lawn Neglect

THOUSAND OAKS —  A member of the Conejo Recreation and Park District’s board of directors was given a 10-day suspended jail sentence Monday for failing to properly maintain the front lawn of his Thousand Oaks home.

Marc Jacobsen was also ordered by Superior Court Judge James P. Cloninger to report to a probation officer and pay a previously levied $500 fine within 30 days.

“If it comes back again for a violation, then I suppose he’s in trouble,” said Dennis Kucera, Jacobsen’s attorney. Jacobsen had originally been cited for failing to maintain the frontyard of his home in the 1200 block of Sheffield Place in 1996 and placed on probation.

But Jacobsen delayed work because the house’s foundation was cracked and the heavy equipment needed to repair it would have destroyed the lawn, Kucera said.

The repairs to the house remain unfinished because Jacobsen has been unable to secure financing.

Kucera said his client intends to inexpensively seed the yard with grass.

“He’s trying to take care of it,” Kucera said. “The same thing goes on all around the city, but the neighbors don’t complain and people don’t get prosecuted.”

Thousand Oaks city officials could not be reached for comment.