Valiant Supervillain Prince Mongo
Officials: Wilbur resident pushes code laws too far By LYDA LONGA, Staff Writer 
A large backhoe waits for another dump truck to remove more sand as crews from McQueen’s Complete Lawn Care and Allen Tractor Service remove trash and piles of sand Monday from the home of Robert Hodges. (N-J | David Tucker)
Isiah Barnes uses a trimmer and edger on Robert Hodges’ house in Venetian Way on Monday. (N-J | David Tucker)
Robert Hodges, aka “Prince Mongo,” stands proudly at his home in March 2010. (N-J file | David Tucker)
YouTube video:
Prince Mongo of the Planet Zambodia
WILBUR-BY-THE-SEA -- When county officials were done with Robert Hodges' beachside property on Monday afternoon, it just looked like a multicolored house with lousy landscaping and a small mountain of white sand in front of it.
Hours before that though, the front yard of the residence at 101 Venetian Way, south of Daytona Beach Shores, was nothing short of outlandish.
It included a much larger sandpile adorned with everything from a plastic Santa Claus, to skis, hockey sticks, a barbecue lid, fencing and all manner of Christmas knickknacks and decorations.
But after the homeowner -- Michael Hodges of Virginia Beach, Va. -- and its lone resident -- Robert Hodges, aka "Prince Mongo" -- ignored a notice of violation that the county sent the pair in late May, code enforcement officials decided it was time to stifle Robert Hodges' creativity.
While a "before" picture of the sandpile shows somewhat of an organization in the decor atop the near roof-high hill, the notice sent to Michael Hodges -- Robert Hodges' nephew -- described the problem as "an accumulation of sand, waste and debris."
"We went in today and cleaned up the property," said county spokesman Dave Byron. "He (the homeowner) will be billed for the cleanup."
Byron didn't say how much that would cost, but a worker at the house said it would take three trips using heavy machinery to do the job.
A yellow, front-end loader sat atop the empty sandpile on Monday afternoon. Byron said the rest of the sand would be removed today.
Robert Hodges, however, is undeterred.
To some folks in Memphis, where Hodges is known as "Prince Mongo, " this behavior is no surprise. Hodges has had legal confrontations in that city, where he owns a home and has owned businesses. He runs a perpetual campaign for mayor there. Also, in Fort Lauderdale he reportedly had a similar code-enforcement issue in a $2 million home.
But ask him where he's from originally, and Robert Hodges -- again in a serious tone -- answers, "I'm from another planet. I'm from Zambodia."
Reached in Miami on Monday, he said he now has an idea for the inside of the residence.
"I'm going to donate my house to ex-convicts," said Robert Hodges, who claims he has advertisements out for ex-convicts.
"The requirement is that they have to have a heinous crime on their record -- I can't just put anyone in that house," he said, deadpan, without a hint of humor.
He plans to either place an ex-convict and the convict's extended family in the residence or several ex-convicts as a group in the almost 2,000-square-foot house. Robert Hodges also said he will rent a tent large enough to accommodate 200 people. He will set it up next to the house each weekend and provide church services for the felons.
"I'm in Miami now interviewing ex-convicts who answered my ad," Robert Hodges said. "Next, I'm going to Punta Gorda to interview more ex-convicts."
Members of the Venetian Way homeowners association did not return calls Monday.
The Hodges house -- one of 20 residences in an unincorporated beachside community known as Venetian Way -- has been embroiled in a code-enforcement conflict that began four years ago with a deck extension. The issue escalated when displays of undergarments, ski poles and surfboards stuck in sand deposits and other head-turning items appeared around the property.
At one point the outdoor decorations included paintings of nudes.
Last May, the property came into compliance with Volusia County when Robert Hodges removed all the underwear and the paintings. The house, purchased for $302,000 in January 2007, is Robert Hodges' winter home when he's not living in Memphis.
But Robert Hodges -- who will only answer to the name Prince Mongo, the moniker he says was given to him by his mother -- said he will be returning to the house only to work with the ex-convicts.
One of the residents in the Venetian Way community that dead-ends at the Intracoastal Waterway, just rolled his eyes and summed up Robert Hodges' eccentricities with one simple sentence: "He just wants to be on TV."
Shameless Screen Grab courtesy of the Daytona Beach News Journal
Read more about the Valiant Prince Mongo.
Added to the List of Villains who inspire, and will be added to the Hall of Evil.
You will Rule Prince Mongo!
-Lord Maligannce
Valiant Supervillain Prince Mongo
Officials: Wilbur resident pushes code laws too far
By LYDA LONGA, Staff Writer
A large backhoe waits for another dump truck to remove more sand as crews from McQueen’s Complete Lawn Care and Allen Tractor Service remove trash and piles of sand Monday from the home of Robert Hodges. (N-J | David Tucker)
Isiah Barnes uses a trimmer and edger on Robert Hodges’ house in Venetian Way on Monday. (N-J | David Tucker)
Robert Hodges, aka “Prince Mongo,” stands proudly at his home in March 2010. (N-J file | David Tucker)
YouTube video:
Prince Mongo of the Planet Zambodia
Prince Mongo of the Planet Zambodia
WILBUR-BY-THE-SEA -- When county officials were done with Robert Hodges' beachside property on Monday afternoon, it just looked like a multicolored house with lousy landscaping and a small mountain of white sand in front of it.
Hours before that though, the front yard of the residence at 101 Venetian Way, south of Daytona Beach Shores, was nothing short of outlandish.
It included a much larger sandpile adorned with everything from a plastic Santa Claus, to skis, hockey sticks, a barbecue lid, fencing and all manner of Christmas knickknacks and decorations.
But after the homeowner -- Michael Hodges of Virginia Beach, Va. -- and its lone resident -- Robert Hodges, aka "Prince Mongo" -- ignored a notice of violation that the county sent the pair in late May, code enforcement officials decided it was time to stifle Robert Hodges' creativity.
While a "before" picture of the sandpile shows somewhat of an organization in the decor atop the near roof-high hill, the notice sent to Michael Hodges -- Robert Hodges' nephew -- described the problem as "an accumulation of sand, waste and debris."
"We went in today and cleaned up the property," said county spokesman Dave Byron. "He (the homeowner) will be billed for the cleanup."
Byron didn't say how much that would cost, but a worker at the house said it would take three trips using heavy machinery to do the job.
A yellow, front-end loader sat atop the empty sandpile on Monday afternoon. Byron said the rest of the sand would be removed today.
Robert Hodges, however, is undeterred.
To some folks in Memphis, where Hodges is known as "Prince Mongo, " this behavior is no surprise. Hodges has had legal confrontations in that city, where he owns a home and has owned businesses. He runs a perpetual campaign for mayor there. Also, in Fort Lauderdale he reportedly had a similar code-enforcement issue in a $2 million home.
But ask him where he's from originally, and Robert Hodges -- again in a serious tone -- answers, "I'm from another planet. I'm from Zambodia."
Reached in Miami on Monday, he said he now has an idea for the inside of the residence.
"I'm going to donate my house to ex-convicts," said Robert Hodges, who claims he has advertisements out for ex-convicts.
"The requirement is that they have to have a heinous crime on their record -- I can't just put anyone in that house," he said, deadpan, without a hint of humor.
He plans to either place an ex-convict and the convict's extended family in the residence or several ex-convicts as a group in the almost 2,000-square-foot house. Robert Hodges also said he will rent a tent large enough to accommodate 200 people. He will set it up next to the house each weekend and provide church services for the felons.
"I'm in Miami now interviewing ex-convicts who answered my ad," Robert Hodges said. "Next, I'm going to Punta Gorda to interview more ex-convicts."
Members of the Venetian Way homeowners association did not return calls Monday.
The Hodges house -- one of 20 residences in an unincorporated beachside community known as Venetian Way -- has been embroiled in a code-enforcement conflict that began four years ago with a deck extension. The issue escalated when displays of undergarments, ski poles and surfboards stuck in sand deposits and other head-turning items appeared around the property.
At one point the outdoor decorations included paintings of nudes.
Last May, the property came into compliance with Volusia County when Robert Hodges removed all the underwear and the paintings. The house, purchased for $302,000 in January 2007, is Robert Hodges' winter home when he's not living in Memphis.
But Robert Hodges -- who will only answer to the name Prince Mongo, the moniker he says was given to him by his mother -- said he will be returning to the house only to work with the ex-convicts.
One of the residents in the Venetian Way community that dead-ends at the Intracoastal Waterway, just rolled his eyes and summed up Robert Hodges' eccentricities with one simple sentence: "He just wants to be on TV."
Shameless Screen Grab courtesy of the Daytona Beach News Journal
Read more about the Valiant Prince Mongo.
Added to the List of Villains who inspire, and will be added to the Hall of Evil.
You will Rule Prince Mongo!
-Lord Maligannce
I am from Memphis. When Judge Potter locked "Nut Mongo" in jail for doing what he is doing in Florida, Mongo sold his house in Memphis and moved to Florida.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest locking his but up in jail for a few days, I bet it will have the same reaction it had when he was in Memphis.
Funny, how quick Mongo turned around with the threat of jail time.
Good Luck
I was just speaking to someone about Mongo this weekend. I first learned of him in 89 when he sent out press releases to all the local newspapers, tv and radio stations claiming responsibility for a tornado which hit the south side of Memphis. He claimed it was his retaliation for them not electing him mayor once again. Im not sure if he qualifies as a supervillain or not, but he definately keeps life interesting...LOL
ReplyDeleteCrossfire,
ReplyDeleteHe's tough to categorize because apparently he IS tough to live near to. Still - he's got a Villain name, Villain attire, a Villain's Ego, and a plot to take over the world (at least his neighborhood) and enslave humanity (at least his neighbors). Is he Mad? Yes! Harmless? As far as we know. Little known fact: Villains spend a lot of time trying to keep OUT of prison. He may not be everyone's Villain, but One will extend the title to him on One's own behalf.
Thank you as always,
-Lord Malignance
Be forewarned...you may find yourself allied with one who is far more eccentric than my helmeted friend from Florida...Me thinks a debate between ML and KM would be pay-per-view worthy!
ReplyDeleteOne has ML=Metatron - always good for an expressed opinion - but KM? King Mongo? Killer Moth? Really, Master Legend and anyone would be good.
ReplyDelete-Lord Malignance