Mystery investors, pleading the 5th, illegal renovations: Former El Cajon council member’s wild trial

Mystery investors, pleading the 5th, illegal renovations: Former California city council member’s wild trial

Millions of dollars in fines for unpermitted renovations, unexplained loans against the property and a mystery investor who may or may not be a real person. The code-enforcement trial of Bessmon “Ben” Kalasho that ended Wednesday also included this unusual feature: the former El Cajon City Council member represented himself in court — but only after securing a stay for a bench warrant issued for his arrest in 2023. Kalasho, who was elected in 20…

Mystery investors, pleading the 5th, illegal renovations: Former El Cajon council member’s wild trial

Millions of dollars in fines for unpermitted house renovations. Unexplained loans against the property, and a mystery investor who may or may not be a real person. Repeated Fifth Amendment claims by the defendant, who represented himself in court. The three-day civil code-enforcement trial of Bessmon “Ben” Kalasho ended Wednesday, after the former El Cajon council member managed to suspend a bench warrant issued for his arrest two years ago in a…

KALASHOS IN COURT OVER CODE VIOLATIONS, ALLEGED ILLEGAL ADDITIONS AT THEIR EL CAJON HOME

El Cajon City CouncilEast County politicsNewsCommunitiesEl CajonFile photo of Bessmon (Ben) Kalasho in his Fletcher Hills home   By Karen Pearlman   April 23, 2025 (San Diego) – Former El Cajon City Council member Bessmon (Ben) Kalasho and his wife, Jessica Deddeh Kalasho, were in San Diego Superior Court this week facing a slew of municipal code compliance violations and civil penalties related to the couple’s Fletcher Hills home.   Myriad code…