Man Squatting In Queens Home Ordered To Vacate
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – How do you get a squatter out of your home? With great patience, apparently.
In Queens housing court Wednesday, a man who has been living in someone else's home since February asked for another two months before having to leave.
As CBS2's Steve Langford reported, the judge told the squatter his time is quickly running out.
Darrell Beatty was branded a squatter by the judge three weeks after being arrested on criminal charges in the case for allegedly laying false claim to a Laurelton home where CBS2 found him in mid-October.
Jennifer Merin, whose family has owned the home since the 1930s, has been fighting to throw Beatty out for months. Now, the housing court judge has rejected his request to stay until the end of the year, giving him 10 days to get out.
"This is something I have called estate rape," Merin said.
As Langford reported, Merin was forced to prove she owns the home after another deed filed with the city, with Beatty's name on it, claimed he owned the home. But if he is paying any rent or making mortgage payments, Merin said she isn't getting any of it.
At one point, the housing court judge told the homeowner's attorney, "There's not going to be any payment, he's a squatter."
"It does seem a little absurd," Merin's attorney James West said.
West, who has seen many things in housing court, said Beatty will have to leave when the marshal comes to the door.
"He could be yes in handcuffs again. I mean that's what the marshal does," West said.
Beatty did not answer CBS2's questions about if he was moving out.
"Oh, I hope he gets put away, he deserves it," Merin said.
Beatty is due in criminal court November 25.
He is also charged in another case in Queens for alleged false impersonation after being pulled over by a police officer.
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