Follow-up: Montgomery Veteran Larry Bates, Eviction Citation Issued for 4/23 Trial Date

MONTGOMERY, TX -- In a recent news story from March 26 (found at https://www.woodlandsonline.com/npps/story.cfm?nppage=81020), a local Vietnam Era Veteran Helicopter Pilot who was threatened with eviction by management at The Heritage Seniors apartments on Flagship Boulevard in Montgomery, has now been issued with an Eviction Notice dated 4/8/2025. The action, instituted by Ms. Kendra Rogiers, representing The Heritage Seniors apartments as the plaintiff, is located behind The Montgomery Trace Shopping Center. The Eviction Citation was signed by Precinct Five Justice of the Peace, Judge Matt Madsen, and was hand delivered to the defendant, Mr. Larry Bates, on the evening of the 8th. The trial date is set for April 23rd, at the Justice Court, located at 19100 Unity Park Drive, in Magnolia.

The original attempt to have Mr. Bates removed from his apartment was allegated by then apartment manager, Rosie Perez, based on infestation back in January. Mr. Bates had been in the Veterans Hospital in Houston recovering from open heart surgery while an issue with the apartment’s dishwasher repair attempt was made. Following his return to his apartment the Veteran was presented with a document from Ms Perez’s office: ‘Notice to Vacate for Non-Delinquency Breach of Lease or Unauthorized Holdover for TDHCA-Regulated Affordable Housing,’ Re: Notice to vacate for non-rent breach of lease TAA Lease between the resident names above and NH Heritage LP, of which the parent company, Blazer Real Estate Services, LLC, a property management company in Houston.

The document states that the lease was violated on multiple occasions from October 14th to January 23rd, 2025, and “The condition of the apartment is now deemed unsanitary, creating a health and safety risk.” The document was signed by Ms Perez on January 29th. In a subsequent document also obtained by MCN, dated 1/22/2025, Mr. Bates was charged by Mr. Perez’s office in addition to his rent, a ‘dishwasher replacement fee’ of $475.22, which included an $80.00 for ‘roach cleanout.’ And months later, the dishwasher has still not been replaced.

“I’m still concerned about how things will turn out,” said Mr. Bates. “It has been a very stressful time for me.”

With all the turmoil in his life, Mr. Bates was resigned to accept his fate, but it was friends that spoke up for him. On February 26th they called Amos Savell, of Veterans and Patriots United (VPU), located in Huntsville, and Montgomery VFW Post 12223 Service Officer Harvey Yaw, located in Montgomery, who immediately responded to the call and looked into the situation. A quick inspection of the apartment by Savell and Yaw, yielded several videos and pictures, which showed no signs of rat or roach infestation, nor any tell-tale signs of any pestilence. In a Freedom of Information Act request submitted to the Montgomery County Housing Authority on February 27th, MCN requested a 2024 report dated 9/24/24, which showed the apartment passed inspection with no deficiencies noted, which was just three weeks before Ms Perez’ first notice of violation to Mr. Bates. The Heritage Seniors refused to provide any inspection reports to Mr. Bates.

MCN has obtained all the documents, pictures, and videos associated with Mr. Bates apartment, including the Eviction Citation; and it appears that the tactics had changed in reference to the reasoning for evicting the Veteran. In the Eviction Citation, The Heritage Seniors had not included infestation at the reasoning for the eviction attempt, but rather for non-payment of rent, which Heritage Seniors started refusing to accept in February. In the Eviction Petition, the Grounds for Eviction were the defendants' failure to pay rent for ‘February, March, and April 2025,’ with the amount of back-rent being noted as $999.00. MCN witnessed an attempt by Mr. Bates to pay Ms Perez the back due rent on March 7th, but she again refused to accept the check, and threatened Mr. Bates with court over non-payment of dishwasher, roach clean-out fees, and non-payment of rent; all issues that could easily be resolved had the apartment manager accepted the Veterans payments.

It may not be just Mr. Bates receiving negative attention from the apartment, a number of residents have noted being intimidated, and refuse to go on record for fear of retaliation. Larry Bates has resided at The Heritage Seniors for over five years and has a good history as a tenant, and pays his rent on time, plus his friends and neighbors report his apartment is always very clean and presentable. And it was his friends who looked out for Mr. Bates and called on Savell and Yaw to help.

Now that VFW Post 12223 in Montgomery has gotten involved, Post Commander Foy Day says that Mr. Bates will have a backing at his trial on the 23rd in Magnolia. He has even invited comrades from his district to support the Veteran, who although didn’t serve in a combat zone, should be noted as a Veteran who completed his service to America honorably.

“This makes me angry and saddens me that a Veteran has to endure this from his community,” said Day. “I intend to fill the courtroom with many Veterans to show support for Mr. Bates.”

Valuable resources can be found at VPU – veteranspatriotsunited.org – and VFW Post 12223, Montgomery – VFW12223.org.