Hoarder remains at a mental health institute, fined $95,000 to pay for cleanup

And you thought your cleaning service was expensive.

Sun City Summerlin hoarder Kenneth Epstein on Tuesday was ordered to pay $95,000 to Las Vegas for cleaning his home.

Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge Bert Brown also told Epstein he must allow a monthly inspection of his home by city officials, cannot rummage through other people's trash without their consent, cannot possess a firearm and cannot have animals in his house without the court's permission. If Epstein successfully completes those terms for two years, the case will be dismissed.

City officials tossed Epstein in jail last month "in the best interests of his safety" while they threw out 41 tons of accumulated refuse, which included at least 40 live and 15 dead cats. The cleanup effort involved fumigating his home at 9517 Gold Bank Drive, near Sun City and Del Webb boulevards.

Epstein's lawyer, Kristina Wildeveld, said he remained at a mental health institute where a case plan is being developed to help him successfully return home once he is released.

The city will put a lien on the home for the money, said Wildeveld, who has asked for an itemized breakdown of the $95,000 bill.

Epstein pleaded no contest to failure to register a pistol, failure to have a cat fanciers license, a fire code violation and two counts of being a public nuisance, all misdemeanors.

One count of cruelty to animals was dropped as part of a plea agreement.

City officials called Epstein's home "the worst example of hoarding they have experienced."

Some 44 truckloads of contaminated items were hauled away, including two dishwashers, two stoves and six refrigerators. There was rotting food, roaches, drywall sprayed with cat urine and rodents in the home.

The refuse was packed floor to ceiling, and Epstein had to crawl atop the materials in a crawl space about 12 to 15 inches high to move around the house.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.