Special Magistrate Jennifer Peschke on Oct. 1, 2025 found nuisance violations and ordered abatements in a series of code-enforcement cases brought by the City of Fort Pierce.

The rulings affect property owners and registered agents at addresses across the city, covering nonoperable vehicles, lot-clearing and landscaping violations, and one vacant-building board-up order. In each case the city presented photographs and notices as evidence; the magistrate accepted the city's composite exhibit into evidence and entered orders requiring corrective action, with fines or towing threatened for noncompliance.

Why it matters: The orders require property owners to correct conditions city staff said threaten public health, safety and welfare. Failure to comply will trigger city abatement actions whose costs can be assessed against the property, plus daily fines in many cases and removal of vehicles when applicable. Property owners have statutory appeal periods following the orders.

City presentations and evidence
City code-enforcement officers — including Heather De Bevec, Charmaine Kirkland and Jarvis Gamble — introduced photographs and copies of notices of violation for each case; the city’s exhibit was entered as “City’s composite 1.” Officers testified to inspection and posting dates and, in several cases, said they had no recent contact with property owners or received only undelivered (green) cards. Assistant City Attorney Felicia Holloman and staff members including Kat Calderon and Isaac Saucedo were present for the hearing.

Key orders at the hearing
- NONOP2025-184, 118 Maple Ave. (owner: Yolanda Emery). Violation cited: 24-19, subsection 15(c) (nonoperable vehicles). Peschke found a nuisance condition, ordered the owner to ensure vehicles are road-safe within seven days, and warned that failure to comply could result in the vehicle’s removal by tow. The order includes a 30-day appeal period.

- NONOP2025-192, 1407 S. 20th St. (owner: William Petit). Violation: 24-19, subsection 15(c). The magistrate found a nuisance condition, gave seven days to make vehicles operable, and ordered that failure to comply may result in towing and assessment of abatement costs; 30 days to appeal.

- LTCL2025-261, 617 N. 9th St. (violator: GTA Investment Group LLC; registered agent: Steven Smoke). Violation: 24-19, subsection 11(a)-(b) (landscaping requirements). The magistrate ordered seven days to cut grass and weeds, trim trees and shrubs, and remove trash and landscape debris. The order sets a $100-per-day fine for continued violations, authorizes city abatement with cost assessment to the property and provides a 30-day appeal period.

- LTCL2025-262, 614 N. 9th St. (violators: Charles Chavez Estate; Fannie Darden; William Lewis). Violation: 24-19, subsection 11(a)-(b). Order: seven days to comply, $100-per-day fines for noncompliance, city abatement and 30 days to appeal.

- LTCL2025-263, 710 Dundas Ct. (violators: J.H. and Gloria B. Dickerson). Violation: 24-19, subsection 11(a)-(b). Order: seven days to comply; $100-per-day fines for continued violations; city abatement; 30-day appeal.

- LTCL2025-264, 708 Dundas Ct. (same owners as previous). Violation: 24-19, subsection 11(a)-(b). Order: seven days to comply; $100-per-day fines; city abatement; 30-day appeal.

- LTCL2025-265, 437 Dundas Ct. (violators: Jislaney Charleston; J.N. Marie Raymond). Violation: 24-19, subsection 11(a)-(b). Order: seven days to comply; $100-per-day fines; city abatement; 30-day appeal.

- LTCL2025-266, 435 Dundas Ct. (violators: Willie D. Rose; Altamese V. Ellerbee; Agnes Thomas). Violation: 24-19, subsection 11(a)-(b). Order: seven days to comply; $100-per-day fines; city abatement; 30-day appeal.

- LTCL2025-279, 423 N. 12th St. (violator: GTA Investment Group LLC; registered agent: Steven Smoke). Violation: 24-19, subsection 11(a)-(b). Order: seven days to comply; $100-per-day fines; city abatement; 30-day appeal.

- LTCL2025-280, 427 N. 12th St. (violator: Priscilla H. Robinson). Violation: 24-19, subsection 11(a)-(b). Order: seven days to comply; $100-per-day fines; city abatement; 30-day appeal.

- NUIS2025-27, 427 N. 12th St. (violators: Priscilla H. Robinson; Ronald Hagwood). Violations: 103-341 (vacant buildings, board-up requirement), 24-19, subsection 16 (board up required), and 24-19, subsection 5 (unsafe building conditions). Peschke ordered the property secured — including boarding openings with painted exterior-grade plywood or similar material installed in a workmanlike manner — within 10 days. The order carries a $100-per-day penalty for continued violation, authorizes city abatement and cost assessment to the property, and provides a 30-day appeal period.

Magistrate’s finding and procedure
Peschke repeatedly stated on the record, “a nuisance condition exists in violation of the code of ordinances and that such nuisance condition poses a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of the community,” and entered orders directing abatement through the city’s nuisance abatement program. The city accepted its composite photographic exhibit as evidence in each case. Several officers testified they had not received responses from owners or had only green-card returns for certified mailings.

Other administrative items
The magistrate listed several cases marked “in compliance” or rescheduled; staff reviewed mailing and posting procedures for hearings and noted that mailed notices, certified mail status and posting at City Hall and the property are used when green cards are not returned.

Next steps and appeals
Most orders set seven days for corrective action; the board-up order set 10 days. The orders warn of either $100-per-day fines for continued landscaping/lot-clearing or unsafe-building violations, or removal/towing for nonoperable vehicles, and state that the city may abate and assess the cost against the property. Each order provides a 30-day appeal period.