Technicality Leads To Dismissal Of Criminal Case Against Ex-Homeowner Accused Of Stripping $1M In Fixtures From Foreclosed Home; DA To Refile Charges

In Southern California, North County Times reports:

• Suzy Brown, who was accused of stripping $1 million worth of property from the bank-foreclosed home her Encinitas neighbors dubbed the "monster house," won a legal victory Thursday when a judge dismissed criminal charges against her on a technicality. Brown, 45, was facing one charge of grand theft and one charge of felony vandalism for allegedly taking truckloads of lavish fixtures when she moved out of the bank-owned mansion in March 2009.

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• However, Superior Court Judge Aaron Katz ruled Thursday after a preliminary hearing at the Vista Courthouse that Eacret failed to prove that the bank ---- not Brown ---- owned the house last year when a real estate broker for Chevy Chase Bank discovered its doors, windows and 18 toilets, among other property, were missing.

For more, see Judge dismisses case against ex-owner of 'monster house'.

For story update, see Prosecutors to refile charges against ex-owner of 'monster house':

• Prosecutors will refile charges against Suzy Brown, the woman accused of stripping $1 million worth of lavish fixtures from the foreclosed home her Encinitas neighbors dubbed the "monster house," according to a deputy district attorney. Superior Court Judge Aaron Katz dismissed felony theft and vandalism charges against Brown on Thursday after a preliminary hearing at the Vista Courthouse.

• Katz said Deputy District Attorney Robert Eacret had shown evidence at the hearing that Brown, 45, had taken truckloads of toilets, windows and appliances from the Olivenhain mansion after she moved out in March 2009, but the judge said he had to dismiss the charges on a technicality.