By Patric Hedlund, TME

A slow-motion war of restraining orders alleging violent behavior is being fought between Alexander “Alex” Frankian, the director of Lake Hughes Recovery, Inc. (LHR) and the owner of 34-acre M&M Peach Ranch, an organic peach and cherry orchard on Three Points Road, near Neenach.

According to legal filings and interviews, LHR, a for-profit residential and outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation company, is being evicted from the ranch property owned by William “Bill” Basner, who is listed as 78 years old.

LHR is also in the midst of renovating the Studio 6 Motel in Gorman to serve as a new treatment facility.

In court documents Basner alleges LHR failed to pay its rent at the ranch and has failed to maintain his property, allowing his pond and park-like grounds to dry up, while letting hundreds of valuable koi fish die or be stolen. Basner is filing a restraining order and elder abuse claim against Frankian, 45. Basner is Frankian’s stepfather.

LHR has filed a restraining order to keep Basner off his own working ranch. The judge denied most elements of the “stay away” order sought by LHR, noting that…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Lake Hughes Recovery, Inc. is renovating the Studio 6 Motel in Gorman to serve as a substance abuse rehabilitation facility. They are removing balconies, and have a fence around the perimeter, but haven’t shown the community their plans.

The beautiful M&M Peach Ranch has been a treasure of the Western Antelope Valley but a storm of legal filings in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch, occurred in March with eviction of Lake Hughes Recovery, Inc. from the property. Their refusal to leave brought with it associated allegations of violence and threats on both sides, then court hearings in April and May.

M&M Peach Ranch owner Bill Basner claims in court filings that LHR let his koi pond and the grounds go dry, then made violent threats. LHR claims Basner harassed employees and threatened patients’ confidentiality protections.
Both deny the other’s allegations.

LHR has websites that feature photos of the Three Points M&M Ranch as it used to appear. They also contain information about drug treatment. This is a photo about relapsing with alcoholism.

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This is part of the May 7, 2021 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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