A Concord landlord accused of failing to take care of a bedbug problem at an apartment building may face jail time.
The city attorney's office said it is working to get an arrest warrant for the landlord of the 20-unit building at 2175 California St. for not addressing the issue.
"The city attorney's office filed a criminal case against the property owner based on habitability issues that alleged to violate the Concord Municipal Code and specifically involve bedbugs," said Lance Bayer of the Concord City Attorney's Office.
A man interviewed by NBC Bay Area and who did not want to be identified said he has been dealing with the pests for years.
Joan Page, who lives in the building, said her apartment is not infested. But she added the landlord does not maintain the building -- the elevator did not work for an entire month and there is only one washer in the laundry room.
"I hope he goes to jail for it," Page said of the landlord. "I really do because he doesn't care about any of his tenants."
Landlord Athan Magganas said he is doing the best he can. He told NBC Bay Area he has tried to fumigate before and is working now to hire another exterminator.
Local
"It is very, very silly," Magganas said of the accusations. "I don't consider myself a criminal and I hope it will not come to that."
Magganas said only two of the units in the apartment building are infested with bedbugs and that he has not been notified by officials regarding an arrest warrant.
If a judge approves the request for an arrest warrant, officials said Magganas could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
