Hoarder won’t return to Summerlin

A man who has ruined 13 homes over the past 30 years because of his hoarding won't be returning to his Sun City Summerlin home, to the relief of former neighbors .

Instead, Kenneth Epstein will be living in Las Vegas at a location where he will have constant supervision to prevent him from resuming his hoarding. He will continue to receive treatment for his problem.

His attorney, Kristina Wildeveld, believes he has a strong incentive to change. If he returns to hoarding within two years, he will go to jail for 358 days.

On Tuesday, he pleaded no contest to five of six misdemeanor charges, and Las Vegas Municipal Judge Bert Brown gave him a suspended sentence with the understanding the suspension could be revoked if Epstein violates the conditions of the sentence.

Studies show therapy succeeds only if the hoarder is strongly motivated .

Wildeveld said she is optimistic Epstein will respond to treatment "because Mr. Epstein is optimistic, he wants to lead a healthy, normal life." She described him as a "kind, gentle man who is frustrated because he doesn't like all these people involved in his life." She admits that he doesn't understand why his hoarding is a problem to others.

Epstein wasn't living a healthy, normal life in Sun City Summerlin. He was living in filth and squalor with 55 cats, and clutter reaching nearly to the ceiling in his home on Gold Bank Drive. He couldn't walk through his home; he had to crawl atop the mess.

City officials had been citing him since 2007 for the outside clutter. No one knew that inside was the worst case of hoarding city officials could remember.

Neighbors walking on the street complained of foul smells, which should have been a clue.

Unable to get action from the Sun City Summerlin Community Association or Eagle Valley Homeowners Association, the smaller subassociation of 38 duplexes, or the agencies he contacted, a neighbor came to me. After my column ran Sept. 29, City Councilman Stavros Anthony brought in a task force to address the situation.

When city officials entered the home, they realized he had a far greater problem than just clutter on his front and back patio. To force the cleanup, which began Oct. 5, the city had to go to court showing the home was a health and safety hazard.

The foulness of the inside of Epstein's home cannot be overstated. One worker entered the home wearing a mask and came out and vomited, Anthony said.

"We went into this thing with two objectives, to make sure the house was safe and that Epstein received treatment, and we accomplished both," said Anthony, a former police officer with a doctorate in sociology. "I think it was a good resolution. "

Epstein, 55, worked with officials and a private contractor to decide what to toss, and what to decontaminate and save in four large storage containers. It was a slow process because hoarders have great difficulty getting rid of things they consider treasures.

After an unregistered gun was found in his home, Epstein was arrested and charged Oct. 12. After an evaluation, he entered  a mental health facility.

In court Tuesday, Epstein didn't have the disheveled appearance he had at home. His hair was combed. He was cleanshaven except for a moustache.

The city of Las Vegas' bill for the massive cleanup and affiliated expenses has reached $95,554 and, in the plea agreement, he agreed to pay it. If he does not, the city will place a lien on the 1,300-square-foot home. The cleanup included the removal of 44 tons of materials from the home, the removal of contaminated floors, drywall, ducts and windows and the decontamination of the bug-infested home. The interior must be restored before the house will be habitable.

The animal cruelty charge was dismissed. He pleaded no contest to failing to register a handgun, failing to have a cat fancier's license, one fire code violation and two public nuisance counts.

Out of the 55 cats found at the home, 15 were dead, 21 were euthanized because of contagious respiratory infection, and 19 are still alive in the care of the Lied Animal Shelter.

Brown placed extensive conditions on Epstein. He must remain in treatment. He cannot go through people's trash and take things without their permission as he did previously. He cannot create a neighborhood blight as he did before. He cannot let items become infested and contaminated, creating a health and safety hazard. He cannot have a pet without the court's permission.

Like Wildeveld, the councilman believes Epstein does want to change.

"He was very thankful that someone was helping him, and he has cooperated through the entire process. He's been staying at that facility and getting help."

Anthony expected to receive a flood of calls about other hoarders but has not, indicating to him that hoarding is not a major problem throughout the city.

But for neighbors, who complained for two years to the HOAs and local officials, it was a major problem.

Neighbor Robert Michael, who first came to me with the problem, said Wednesday he is greatly relieved it appears Epstein won't be returning to the neighborhood.

"Common sense says he's just going to do it again, based on his history. I wouldn't be comfortable with him around here. It's like we did it all for nothing."

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.