Motel 6 in Sylmar alleged hotbed for crime, LA City Attorney says

The Motel 6 on Encinitas Avenue in Sylmar is in the cross-hairs of City Attorney Mike Feuer. He's alleging it is a hotbed for all kinds of crime, from prostitution to narcotics sale, and has filed a lawsuit.

But despite the publicly announced lawsuit, Diana Castaneda, Joney Young and Kent Fields were shocked to hear about it. All three are living at the Motel 6. Castaneda is homeless, stays with friends and gets a room once a week to shower and have some private time.

Her reaction to the lawsuit? "That's kind of trippy. That's kind of scary."

In filing against the motel, Feuer said in just three years there have been 11 arrests for prostitution, 22 for narcotics and 34 others for such things at burglaries, thefts and robberies. Guns have also been found there, including a loaded one inside a box spring.

Kent Fields and Joney Young were understandably shocked to hear things taken in robberies and burglaries were found there too. Just three days ago, they were robbed in Northridge while making their big move from Cincinnati to the San Fernando Valley. Because of that, they're staying at the Motel 6.

"LAPD went undercover and had no problem renting a room when it was obvious that the room was going to be used allegedly for prostitution," the city attorney said.

He added that in one room, police found 71 used condoms and wrappers after just a day.

Feuer also explained an exchange at the family-friendly swimming pool.

"LAPD placed three female undercover officers in bathing suits at that pool," he said. "They were allegedly approached by a suspected gang member who said to them 'you can retain 50 percent of your earnings if you work as a prostitute for me. And by the way, if I learn you're actually police officers I'll find a way to kill you and your family members.'"

Feuer is not only suing the motel and its managers, but also the parent corporation G6 Hospitality Property LLC. He wants them to make some big changes at the motel, including a restructuring of management.

FOX 11 made repeated efforts to reach corporate management in Texas with no success. We even spoke to someone in the G6 Legal Department who said she would have their media department contact us. As of this writing, they had not.

Local managers at the motel referred everything to the corporate office which released the below statement.

"Motel 6 is aware of the lawsuit that has been filed against the Motel 6 property located in Sylmar, California. We are in the process of reviewing the lawsuit, but we do not believe it would be appropriate to discuss a pending litigation at this time."

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