An arrest warrant was issued Monday for the embattled manager of the Bergmann Hotel, after he failed to appear for his arraignment in Juneau Superior Court.
Charles Cotten was charged last week with a minor offense and a misdemeanor for unlawful continuance of a fire hazard, because he failed to correct a list of fire and life safety code violations at the hotel despite notices issued Oct. 31, 2016, and on March 1, according to court documents.
Late Friday afternoon, city officials evicted residents from the condemned building and boarded up all the windows and doors. Cotten was taken into custody for violating his conditions of release on the previous misdemeanor charge; he was also charged with a new count of reckless or intentional violation of a lawful order of the building official, a Class A misdemeanor.
Cotten was taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center, where he was initially held without bail and then released on his own recognizance. His arraignment was set for Monday.
But Cotten was a no-show in court, leading Judge Thomas Nave to issue a $200 bench warrant.
Cotten claims the city holds a personal vendetta against him and against building owners Kathleen and James Barrett. He was charged because he was working on behalf of the owners, but he says he is not legally responsible because there is a limited liability company, CPR Services, that is the contracted management.
The City and Borough of Juneau opted to shut down the Bergmann because, officials said, the building owner failed to address outstanding fire and building code violations, putting tenants in imminent danger. The health and safety hazards reportedly included an inoperable sprinkler system, a gaping hole in the roof, lack of heat and hot water, inadequate restrooms, exposed wiring, broken windows and unsuitable emergency exit doors.
