NATCHEZ — The trial of Arlington owner Dr. Thomas Vaughan began and ended Wednesday without Dr. Thomas Vaughan.

Despite Vaughan’s absence, Municipal Judge Jim Blough ordered Vaughan to pay a $259 fine for demolition by neglect, and a $292 fine plus 10 days in jail suspended for abandonment of a motor vehicle. Vaughan appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges last month.

Blough made his ruling after hearing testimony from Building Inspector Paul Dawes. Dawes reviewed a timeline dating back to July 2008, when the Natchez Preservation Commission cited Vaughan for demolition by neglect.

Since that time, Dawes and other city officials made failed attempts to contact Vaughan about maintaining the historic property, which suffered severe fire damage in September 2002.

Dawes submitted photos taken of Arlington in February and photos taken Tuesday to illustrate how the property has deteriorated further.

Dawes also submitted a letter from Mayor Jake Middleton and the Natchez Board of Aldermen citing Vaughan’s failure to obey a public health safety violation of high grass and weeds surrounding the property.

Dawes testified about drug paraphernalia resting on the property, as well as a bulldozer, a backhoe, a man lift, two dump trucks and a bucket truck.

“Vandals have apparently destroyed them,” Dawes said of the dump trucks. “None of these vehicles are operable.

“The hood has been removed from one of the dump trucks, and the radiators (have been) removed.”

Code Enforcement Officer Anita Smith, who accompanied Dawes to the trial, adopted Dawes’ testimony as her own.

Blough authorized the City of Natchez to begin maintaining the property. According to the city’s building code, the city can oversee property maintenance if the owner fails to do so.

In addition to the court fines, the labor and materials the city uses to salvage Arlington could come out of Vaughan’s pocket, Blough said.

Blough said the city can either use its own employees to clean up Arlington or hire an outside company.

Dawes said he has enlisted help from the public works department, but plans will not be executed until after the case is reviewed at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 11 in Natchez Municipal Court.

Vaughan may appeal Blough’s ruling, but he must appear in court with an attorney to do so.