By Bendix Anderson

Landlords across the country may be charged under federal law for renting apartments to illegal immigrants. The precedent is being set this month in Lexington, Ky.

On June 23, landlord William Jerry Hadden will stand trial in federal court. He and his son, Jamey, are charged with 24 counts of harboring illegal aliens and 24 counts of encouraging illegal immigrants to remain in the country, according to local press reports in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Hadden, 69 , faces jail time and could also lose his two properties: Cross Keys Apartments on Cross Keys Road and Woodridge Apartments, both in Lexington. The two apartment complexes have 165 units and are reportedly worth about $5 million.

The case appears to be the first time the federal government has tried to prosecute landlords for renting to illegal immigrants, according to the Herald-Leader.

Four tenants have already testified in depositions that they showed only Mexican identification when they applied for apartments. The Haddens contend that they had no legal obligation to check any tenant’s immigration status. Local laws passed in other cities prohibiting landlords from renting to illegal immigrants have been struck down in court.

The indictment against the Haddens also accuses them of employing two illegal immigrants as apartment managers

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