Follow-up: Family alleges financial stripping, isolation and attempted private sale of property
by Marvin Ramírez
In a dramatic turn in the legal dispute surrounding renowned Latin music promoter and businessman César Ascarrunz, the 90-year-old cultural icon was removed Tuesday from a senior care facility in Modesto, California, after attorneys representing his younger son and the child’s mother secured his release after months of restricted contact amid allegations of financial abuse, unlawful isolation and misuse of legal authority.
Marta Rodríguez, the mother of Ascarrunz’s youngest son, Leonardo “Leo” Ascarrunz, confirmed in a phone interview that César was taken out of the facility after months of restricted contact. “He was being isolated. They wouldn’t let family speak to him or see him. Today we finally got him out,” Rodríguez said. “This has been about control — of his person and of his money.”
According to family members and attorneys involved in the case, several bank accounts belonging to Ascarrunz were allegedly emptied while he was confined to the facility, leaving him with roughly $200. The family also claims that preparations were underway for a private sale of his property without broad notice — a move they say would have concealed the transaction from other interested parties and the court. “They were moving fast to dispose of assets while he was cut off from the outside world,” Rodríguez said.
The case centers on accusations that older siblings, identified in court filings as Scott and Michael Ascarrunz, exerted control over César’s finances and access to communication by disconnecting phones, limiting visits and relying on what the family contends was an invalid or misused power of attorney. Family members say César was presented to outside parties as mentally incapacitated, despite the absence of any court determination to that effect. “They told people he was not able to make decisions. That is not what the doctors found,” Rodríguez said.
The legal fight is now expected to intensify. A restraining order has been issued against the siblings accused of exploiting César, and a return to court is scheduled for next week. Attorneys for Leonardo Ascarrunz are seeking further court supervision over any decisions involving César’s person and property. The family says false accusations were also made against Rodríguez and Leonardo, alleging they had abused César financially. “That was a lie used to justify taking control away from him and cutting us off,” Rodríguez said.
The dispute also extends to César Ascarrunz’s home near the Mission District, where a tenant identified as Blanca was allegedly allowed to remain while César was kept away. Family members say Blanca, who was purportedly acting as a caretaker, prevented phone calls and visits and used César’s vehicles while he was confined. The family expects the tenant to vacate so César can return to his home. “He wants to go back to his house. That’s his place, his life,” Rodríguez said.
Beyond the immediate legal battle, the family says plans are underway to help César regain independence and dignity after prolonged isolation. Those plans include providing assistive technology for the visually impaired — such as accessible phones and computer tools — as well as physical therapy to rebuild strength after prolonged inactivity. “He’s been sitting for so long that his body needs to be reactivated,” Rodríguez said. “We want him to be able to communicate freely and live with some normalcy again.”
César Ascarrunz is widely remembered as the founder of Cesar’s Latin Palace, a landmark venue that helped define Latin music and culture in San Francisco for decades. Friends and community members have expressed concern that the elder musician’s legacy stands in stark contrast to the vulnerability he has faced in recent months. As the case returns to court, advocates for elder rights note that allegations of isolation, financial stripping and misuse of legal authority fall squarely within areas of concern under California’s elder protection statutes.
For now, the family says the priority is restoring César’s freedom of communication, protecting his assets under court supervision and allowing him to return home. “This is about his liberty,” Rodríguez said. “No one should be isolated and stripped of their life’s work at the end of their life.”
This follow-up report is based on court filings, interviews with family members, and statements from attorneys involved in the case.
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SEE ALSO: https://elreporterosf.com/isolation-silence-and-legal-dispute-surround-the-case-of-cesar-ascarrunz/
