California Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Harassing New Homeowners Who Outbid On Her ‘Dream Home’

Real estate can be an expensive proposition, but a California woman proved that it could be a dangerous one, too. She has been accused of harassing the new homeowners who moved into her ‘dream house.’

Kathy Rowe loved the house but was unfortunately outbid by a couple. Instead of letting it go, Kathy allegedly caused a lot of mischief and trouble for the new homeowners. She has now been accused of playing cruel and potentially dangerous pranks on the couple who had the misfortune of outbidding Kathy.

According to the criminal complaint, Rowe was arrested in October 2012 when she was accused of harassing a couple who bought the house in the upscale Carmel Valley neighborhood that she had also placed an offer on. Rowe was apparently very devastated when she lost her “forever home,” and began playing mean tricks on the husband and wife, who were living in the house, reported Khon 2.

It all began with a few harmless, but infuriating pranks like stopping their mail and sending strangers to their home, but slowly Rowe began to orchestrate pranks that could have easily resulted in a rape.

The couple, who bought the house for $779,000, was bombarded by unwanted magazines, books and junk mail addressed to “Jacques Arse,” which Rowe is accused of arranging. Rowe also allegedly sent romantic Valentine’s Day cards from the husband to his female neighbors.

According to court documents, Rowe is accused of signing the wife up for sex ads online, including one she titled “Carmel Valley Freak Show,” encouraging visitors to drop by unannounced while her husband is at work. In the ad, Rowe encouraged the interested men to force their way inside the home. The alleged advertisement, which listed the couple’s new address, was responded by a young man who showed up at the doorstep, revealed court documents.

Interestingly, a magistrate at a preliminary hearing dismissed the charges against the woman who maintains that she is innocent. However, an appellate court concluded that the magistrate erred and ordered the charges reinstated.

Speaking about the case, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Brendan McHugh said, Rowe is looking at nine years of jail-time if found guilty. Apparently, Rowe has been recorded in the past saying she never knew she was scaring the couple, reported ABC News. The police officers, who recorded the statement, called her actions, “stupid pranks.”

Her lawyers stoically maintain that her actions are nothing, but silly pranks born out of the reality that she won’t be able to live in her ‘dream house.’ They said, “This has been a horrible process for her. In no circumstances did she ever intend any harm.”

It is now up to the court to decide whether such pranks are harmful or not.

[Image Credit | Google Maps]