Alleged ‘Rock Houses’ : Landlord in Drug Cases to Be Tried

In the first prosecution of its kind in Los Angeles County, the owner of three Pacoima homes that allegedly were converted into cocaine “rock houses� was ordered Thursday to stand trial on nine felony drug charges.

After a nine-day preliminary hearing, Municipal Judge Kenneth Lee Chotiner ruled that the prosecution had presented enough evidence to hold Jeffrey A. Bryant, 34, for trial in Van Nuys Superior Court.

Not Present During Raids

Although Bryant was not present during any of five raids by law-enforcement officers on the three houses, he was ordered tried on six counts of knowingly maintaining a building where narcotics were sold. The charges were filed under a state statute that has not been tested in the county against an owner of a suspected rock house, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen H. Marcus.

Bryant also was held to answer to two counts of conspiracy to sell cocaine and one count of possession of cocaine for sale.

Argument by Attorney

His court-appointed attorney, Barry F. Hammond, said Bryant owns the three houses in question--13031 Louvre St., 13037 Louvre St. and 11442 Wheeler Ave. However, Hammond asked Chotiner to dismiss the charges against Bryant, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove that Bryant knew drugs were being sold there.

A total of $32,000 in cash and four pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $182,000 was seized in the five raids, police said. A controversial battering ram was employed by police to enter two of the houses. One of the raids was in June, 1984, and the other four were in January, February and March of this year.

The prosecution’s key witness, Antonio King, testified at the hearing that he was inside one of the houses when drugs were sold and accompanied Bryant to Oceanside to purchase drugs for sale.

Testimony of Officers

Police officers testified to making undercover drug purchases at Bryant’s houses, and representatives of several security companies said they were hired by Bryant to install steel doors and window bars.

“When the puzzle is put together, there can be no doubt . . . that this person is running a drug operation,� Marcus told the court. “Mr. Bryant is not only the owner of these houses, he’s the director.�

After reviewing Bryant’s financial records, Chotiner ruled that Bryant has enough equity in his real estate to pay for his own attorney. Chotiner ordered him to reimburse the county $5,600 in attorney’s fees by Dec. 31.

In a related matter, police are still seeking Bryant’s 28-year-old brother, Stanley, who has been charged with one count of possession of cocaine for sale and one count of conspiracy to sell cocaine. A warrant was issued for his arrest on Sept. 24 but he has not been apprehended, Los Angeles Police Detective James Dumelle said.