Although Schaumburg officials convinced jurors John Wuerffel’s property is a hazard to their community, they now must convince a judge the only way to fix the problem is to fix it themselves.

Wuerffel, 62, was convicted Friday on violations of the village code following a two-day jury trial relating to the condition of his property. In photos and through testimony from village employees, the home was depicted as a cluttered, garbage-ridden property that poses a fire hazard, among other public health concerns.

Jurors took less than an hour to convict Wuerffel of three ordinance violations, and Associate Judge Hyman Riebman imposed a $1,200 fine.

However, following the trial, Riebman would not approve the village’s request for a court order allowing them to clean the outside of the property, as well as the house, which was shown in photos as being filled floor to ceiling with piles of items. Since 2008, the village has conducted two court-ordered cleanings of the outside of the property, but never inside the house in the 1400 block of Hampton Lane.

Wuerffel sat quietly as the verdict was read – a stark contrast to his emotions during the unusual trial in which Wuerffel represented himself.

In response to the village’s request for a cleanup, Wuerffel asked Riebman for time to clean his own property. Wuerffel has been living in his van, parked in his driveway, since May 1 because he was locked out of his home during a foreclosure process, which now is on hold.

Wuerffel regained access to the home last week, but still lives outside because there are no utilities in his house.

Riebman said he would not consider another cleaning until the village filed a written motion making the request, containing specific sections of the village code that would give a judge the power to make such an order.

But, in imposing his fine, Riebman told Wuerffel that his “selfish” actions were affecting his neighbors.

“I don’t think what you did was done in a malicious fashion, but just the same…your actions were selfish,” Riebman said.

Wuerffel claimed the items in and around his home are not garbage. Instead, the recyclables are items he intends to exchange for cash in other states, and the other items are things he plans to sell online.

Riebman said the “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure idiom” is true, but crosses the line when other people in the community are affected.

Village Prosecutor Elmer Mannina said he plans to file a post-trial motion requesting the cleanup in the near future.

Public Health Officer Mary Passaglia, who testified at trial, said the previous exterior cleanings cost several thousand dollars each.

Village officials also are looking into the possibility of help from the Cook County Sheriff’s work alternative program – SWAP – which puts low-level offenders to work instead serving jail time, Passaglia added.

As for cleaning the interior of the house, Passaglia said she isn’t sure how much it will cost because it would be a first for the village, and the SWAP team can’t help with the inside of the home.

Wuerffel said he’s cleaning his yard himself, transporting his cans, bottles and other items to storage facilities. But, he doesn’t believe the village will be able to clean the inside of his house.

During his closing argument to jurors, Wuerffel asked for sympathy, explaining that he is in poor health, his family has left him, and he just wants to be left alone.

“How would you like to walk my walk…live my life?” he said.

As Wuerffel left the Rolling Meadow courthouse Friday afternoon, he was in good spirits. He said he was glad to have his say in court.

“Hey, I lost. I took my chance,” he said.