Delaware News

Department of Justice secures the cleanup of a Sussex County nuisance property

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Tuesday, June 9, 2009



For the first time, social vice activity at a Delaware property has ceased through
the Delaware Department of Justice’s enforcement of Delaware’s Nuisance Abatement Act. The
Department announced today that, following a lengthy investigation, all activity resembling adult
entertainment will cease at the Canton Inn and the property owner will take other measures to comply
with the law.

“Today marks an important milestone in our enforcement of Delaware’s Nuisance Abatement
Law,” said State Solicitor Lawrence Lewis. “The Delaware Attorney General’s office is using this
statute in new and innovative ways to combat social vice crime in our neighborhoods. As a result, this
property will no longer be a haven for illegal activity.”

The Department of Justice alleges that the Canton Inn, at 704 Norman Eskridge Highway in
Seaford, has been the site of prostitution and lewd sexual conduct over a period of several years.
Following an investigation by the Delaware State Division of Professional Regulation and the
Delaware State Police, the Department of Justice determined that the property presented an immediate
threat to the public health, safety and welfare. Rather than defend itself against the Department in
court, the owner agreed to abate the nuisance voluntarily by ceasing all adult entertainment activity,
making renovations to the building, and discontinuing advertising as a “gentlemen’s club”. The
establishment will now be promoted as a restaurant and bar.

“The residents of Seaford will benefit greatly from this agreement,” stated Representative
Daniel B. Short, Seaford. “This is exactly how the Nuisance Abatement statute should work and I
commend the Attorney General’s Office for their efforts.”

In August, 2007 Attorney General Beau Biden launched a statewide effort to fight
neighborhood crime in Delaware under the state’s Drug Nuisance and Social Vices Abatement Act.
Under the Nuisance Abatement Act, enforcement actions can take a variety of forms, including closure
of a property. In September, 2008 a property in Wilmington was the first to be ordered closed
permanently under this Act by court order.

The Delaware Department of Justice identifies nuisance properties statewide through its own
investigations and cooperation with state and local police agencies, local authorities, civic associations,
and residents. Since August, 2007, the Department has abated 74 nuisances, either by obtaining a
court order or through securing the voluntary cooperation of the owner to clean up the illegal activity.
# # #

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Department of Justice secures the cleanup of a Sussex County nuisance property

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Tuesday, June 9, 2009



For the first time, social vice activity at a Delaware property has ceased through
the Delaware Department of Justice’s enforcement of Delaware’s Nuisance Abatement Act. The
Department announced today that, following a lengthy investigation, all activity resembling adult
entertainment will cease at the Canton Inn and the property owner will take other measures to comply
with the law.

“Today marks an important milestone in our enforcement of Delaware’s Nuisance Abatement
Law,” said State Solicitor Lawrence Lewis. “The Delaware Attorney General’s office is using this
statute in new and innovative ways to combat social vice crime in our neighborhoods. As a result, this
property will no longer be a haven for illegal activity.”

The Department of Justice alleges that the Canton Inn, at 704 Norman Eskridge Highway in
Seaford, has been the site of prostitution and lewd sexual conduct over a period of several years.
Following an investigation by the Delaware State Division of Professional Regulation and the
Delaware State Police, the Department of Justice determined that the property presented an immediate
threat to the public health, safety and welfare. Rather than defend itself against the Department in
court, the owner agreed to abate the nuisance voluntarily by ceasing all adult entertainment activity,
making renovations to the building, and discontinuing advertising as a “gentlemen’s club”. The
establishment will now be promoted as a restaurant and bar.

“The residents of Seaford will benefit greatly from this agreement,” stated Representative
Daniel B. Short, Seaford. “This is exactly how the Nuisance Abatement statute should work and I
commend the Attorney General’s Office for their efforts.”

In August, 2007 Attorney General Beau Biden launched a statewide effort to fight
neighborhood crime in Delaware under the state’s Drug Nuisance and Social Vices Abatement Act.
Under the Nuisance Abatement Act, enforcement actions can take a variety of forms, including closure
of a property. In September, 2008 a property in Wilmington was the first to be ordered closed
permanently under this Act by court order.

The Delaware Department of Justice identifies nuisance properties statewide through its own
investigations and cooperation with state and local police agencies, local authorities, civic associations,
and residents. Since August, 2007, the Department has abated 74 nuisances, either by obtaining a
court order or through securing the voluntary cooperation of the owner to clean up the illegal activity.
# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.