Special magistrate orders abatement in multiple Fort Pierce code-enforcement cases

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…