Grand Jury Indicts Man Police Say Squatted In Bethesda Home
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A man police said tried to move into a $1 million suburban Washington home without the owner's knowledge was indicted Thursday on charges including theft, identity theft and burglary.
James Crombie, 48, was arrested last year after the homeowner reported that Crombie was moving into the home with his family, according to police in Montgomery County, Maryland. The owner told officers he hadn't sold the custom-built house, which is in Bethesda.
Crombie told police the home had been purchased by a consulting firm on his behalf and that he was a principal in the company, police said. He said he had entered the home by hiring a locksmith to change a lock. Police found no evidence that the consulting firm existed, the report from police said.
Crombie moved into the home with his wife, three children and a family dog on Aug. 30 and left it the next day, police said. The homeowner reported that they had damaged the house and some items were missing. Charles Hill, who lives near the home, said the Crombies had introduced themselves to neighbors and were planning some sort of party.
A separate police report accused Crombie of using an associate's name to lease a $39,000 sport-utility vehicle. The indictment alleges that Crombie stole that man's identity.
Crombie didn't immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday, and a woman who answered the phone at the office of his attorney, Rebecca Nitkin, said Nitkin had no comment on the case.
Initial charges against Crombie were dropped in January, but that was a procedural move as prosecutors sought a grand jury indictment. When the charges were dropped, Crombie contacted The Associated Press and other media organizations demanding retractions of the articles about him.
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