OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department over a one-year period responded to 10 valid noise and alcohol violations at 445 Asbury Ave. All of the responses resulted in either New Jersey State Statutes being issued or City Ordinance summonses being issued for several violations. These violations included excessive noise, underage drinking and overall harassment of neighbors in the area.

Over the course of the year the property owner, Mounir Shehata, was contacted by the Ocean City Police by phone and through mailings advising him of the ongoing problems. The owner made no effort to rectify the problems and they continued throughout May and June 2010. A total of 98 persons were charged during that period between 2009 and 2010. The continued violations led to a criminal charge of “Maintaining a Nuisance” being issued by Sgt. Dave Hall.

All of these violations had a major affect on the “quality of life” for those people living near the address in question. Several meetings were held with the neighbors and the Ocean City Police in an attempt to resolve the issues with the property owner. The only response from the property owner was that he could not control his tenants since he lived out of town.

On June 26, the owner, Mounir Shehata, was charged with Maintaining a Nuisance. On Aug. 10, Shehata, pled guilty to the charge in Ocean City Municipal Court. The owner has been ordered by the court to abate all nuisances at the property including: underage alcohol consumption, excessive noise and trash/recycling issues. A fine was issued in the amount of $500 along with a warning from the court for future violations.