An August court trial is scheduled for Jack Hope concerning his continued failure to register the Parker House as a vacant building.
On Wednesday, Hope appeared on a new charge of failure to register a building.
An affidavit filed with the court stated that Hope “has failed to register his vacant commercial/industrial building located at 137-139 West Main Street.”
The affidavit also describes the November case in which Hope was found guilty for not registering the building. According to the affidavit: “Said case involved the same properties in this violation and … Hope (has) continued to fail to register the building.”
Records show that a court trial on this new charge is set for Aug. 6.
In November, The Times-Gazette reported that Hope was found guilty following a court trial for a charge of failing to register the Parker House property as vacant. According to a Hillsboro ordinance, vacant buildings must be registered.
Following testimony at that time from a total of four witnesses – only two of which Hope questioned himself – special prosecutor Kathryn Hapner summarized the case, saying that the Parker House was found to be vacant and needed to be registered in accordance with the ordinance.
While Hope chose not to give any testimony during the trial, he said in his closing statement: “I’m going to continue to try to improve the buildings of downtown Hillsboro.” He added that he thought it was “ridiculous” that the matter had come before the court.
After reviewing the ordinance, and based on the unrebutted testimony of the witnesses, Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David H. McKenna found that Hope was guilty of failing to register his building within the time limit.
A $100 fine was suspended on the condition that Hope pay the court costs and that he register the Parker House within 30 days or satisfy the city that it was no longer vacant.
In February, Hope appeared in the court on the same case for a hearing.
As previously reported, Hapner filed a motion following a statement from Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins that Hope had not turned in the proper forms to register the Parker House as a vacant building.
When the judge asked Hope if he had registered the building, Hope said, “No, I don’t have a vacant building.”
The judge told him: “We’re not here to retry the case as to whether it’s a vacant building.”
For failing to register the building within the allotted 30 days, the previously suspended $100 fine was imposed. The judge said the fine could be purged if Hope filed the proper registration within 21 days.
Court records show that Hope paid the fine that same day.
Reach Sarah Allen at 937-393-3456, ext. 1680, or on Twitter @SarahAllenHTG.
