Homeowner arrested after trying to move back into her house that was taken over by a squatter

CLAYTON COUNTY, GA - A homeowner has been arrested and charged with criminal trespass after she attempted to move back into her own house, which was inhibited by a squatter.

According to Fox News, the incident happened on December 9th after the homeowner, Loletha Hale, returned to her house to clean up after a judge ruled in her favor in a months-long battle with Sakemeyia Johnson, the alleged squatter. Police said that Hale "executed an illegal eviction and forcibly removed Ms. Johnson's belongings."

Police confirmed with the judge that Hale did not have a "signed writ of possession," which would have allowed her to legally evict Johnson. Hale said that she thought Johnson had moved out of the home after she was handed the victory in court back in November. She said, "I returned on Monday to start painting and she had broken the locks at my property."

She told police, "She just caught up out of nowhere. She had this guy with him, and I locked the door. I locked the screen door and he forced himself in telling us to get out." After getting arrested, Hale told reporters, "To see that woman walk into my mom's house while I was in the police car, something is wrong with this picture. Something is inherently wrong with this picture."

She added, "I spent the night on a mat on a concrete floor in deplorable conditions. While this woman, this squatter slept in my home." Johnson, the squatter, has not been charged with any crimes. Georgia has seen an uptick in squatter cases being brought to court over the last few years. A report by Pacific Legal Foundation found an upward trend in squatter cases being brought to court beginning in 2019. The number of these cases in Georgia rose from three in 2017 to 50 in 2021. In 2023, there were 198 civil court cases involving squatting in Georgia. 

Back in September, Fox News reported on how "professional" squatters move from house to house without ever really facing any consequences. "Professional" squatters are "people who move from one property to the next, taking advantage of innocent landlords with vacant property, as noted in the report from Fox News.

These individuals are familiar with the laws of the state they are in and use that to their advantage. For example, they are aware that in many states, in an abundance of situations, they'll have to be taken to court in order to be removed and in a lot of those instances, while a trial ensues, they are granted access to the home until a resolution is reached.

In April, it was reported that "professional squatters" had taken over a London pub owned by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. The group of people put a lengthy notice on the property, which read in part, "That if you want to get us out you will have to issue a claim for possession in the County Court or in the High Court." Homeowners can keep their properties secure in many ways like making sure the house is well-maintained and doesn't appear to be abandoned. 

Courtney Hartsfield, a Realtor from Tyler Hughes Realty Group with Horizon Realty based in Madison, Alabama, told Fox News Digital, "For homeowners, I would say my best tip would be if you are going to go ahead and move out of state and your home is going to be sold after you've left, or if you are a distant relative and you have a family member's home that is tied up in probate, have someone keep a regular close watch on the property."