By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on Thursday announced that Laurel Bay has been indicted for allegedly illegally occupying a single-family home in Howard Beach last summer.
The property had been vacant since 2012, with the homeowner managing the property from out of state. Observant neighbors spotted the defendant allegedly moving items in and out of the home and reported the activity to the police.
Bay, 49, of Hollis, was arraigned on Thursday on a five-count indictment charging her with burglary in the second degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, criminal trespass in the second degree, petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree.
According to the charges, on July 18, 2024, at approximately 8:40 p.m., an eyewitness observed Bay moving items in and out of the home located on 99th Street. Police were called and the responding officers observed Bay exiting the front door of the location. She was arrested and issued a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespass.
Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
DA Katz praised “the vigilance of nearby neighbors” who spotted the defendant allegedly moving items in and out of the home and reported the activity to the police.
Several days later, on July 21, at approximately 9:20 a.m., the same eyewitness observed items moved around inside the home and the basement door open. When the police were called to the property once again, they observed Bay crawl out of the basement window of the home. She was arrested again and issued a second desk appearance ticket for criminal trespass.
It was later determined that the front and back doors of the house were damaged as the defendant allegedly tried to change the locks.
“It is against the law to walk into someone else’s home without permission and claim you have a right to stay – even if a property is vacant,” Katz said. “This defendant is accused of illegally trespassing onto someone else’s property and trying to claim the home as her own. Thanks to the vigilance of nearby neighbors, my office was promptly alerted and the defendant has now been indicted on serious charges.”
If convicted of the top count, Bay faces a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
