Accused Kirkland mansion squatter 'meant no one any harm'
SEATTLE -- The woman accused of moving into a vacant Kirkland mansion and changing the locks tried to explain herself to a judge and the bank that owns the home during a court hearing on Thursday.
"I made a mistake, but I meant no one any harm. And I'm seeking legal council," said Jill Lane.
Lane has admitted she moved into the vacant mansion for sale. But police said she never paid for the $3.2 million home with it six bedrooms and nine bathrooms.
When neighbors first saw Lane and her two children inside the house, they thought the house had sold. But then they saw no-trespassing signs posted around the property. Their questions landed Lane in court to face the judge and the bank that owns the home.
"The bank owns the property!" said attorney Craig Kleinberg, who told the judge Citizens Bank and Trust Co. is the rightful owner of the house for sale. "They just took up residence there. In our view, they're squatters in the property."
Sources have confirmed Lane was living at the home with her two children, ages 9 and 7, and a man named James Grenz.
Lane and Grenz aren't married, but they were living with the children in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Bothell before moving into the mansion earlier this month.
"We learned two and a half weeks ago that the defendants had moved in without speaking to anyone at the bank, and they changed the locks in the property," said Kleinberg.
At that time, both Lane and Grenz told police they owned the house. But when the bank received the news, it immediately hired a security guard and called police.
Lane also runs a business called Northwest Notes Elimination, a debt recovery business, which prompts users to enter a password in order to access its website.
But a Craiglist posting that advertises her business appears to mirror the legal maneuvers she's used with the Kirkland mansion. The ad states: "Northwest Note Elimination is a mortgage audit process that perfects a claim on the home ridding it of mortgages. We make mortgages vanish completely. Sounds unbelievable, yes."
Lane was arrested in the driveway of the mansion earlier this month for trespassing.
In court on Thursday, Lane claimed she's ready to change her life. The bank asked the judge to formally evict Lane, but the judge said he had no jurisdiction since Lane had already moved out of the home.
Lane agreed to sign a document admitting she has no rights to the property.
She may be back in court if prosecutors charge her with criminal trespassing. The bank indicated it may file a civil lawsuit against Lane to seek restitution for unpaid rent, attorney fees and court costs.
"I made a mistake, but I meant no one any harm. And I'm seeking legal council," said Jill Lane.
Lane has admitted she moved into the vacant mansion for sale. But police said she never paid for the $3.2 million home with it six bedrooms and nine bathrooms.
When neighbors first saw Lane and her two children inside the house, they thought the house had sold. But then they saw no-trespassing signs posted around the property. Their questions landed Lane in court to face the judge and the bank that owns the home.
"The bank owns the property!" said attorney Craig Kleinberg, who told the judge Citizens Bank and Trust Co. is the rightful owner of the house for sale. "They just took up residence there. In our view, they're squatters in the property."
Sources have confirmed Lane was living at the home with her two children, ages 9 and 7, and a man named James Grenz.
Lane and Grenz aren't married, but they were living with the children in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Bothell before moving into the mansion earlier this month.
"We learned two and a half weeks ago that the defendants had moved in without speaking to anyone at the bank, and they changed the locks in the property," said Kleinberg.
At that time, both Lane and Grenz told police they owned the house. But when the bank received the news, it immediately hired a security guard and called police.
Lane also runs a business called Northwest Notes Elimination, a debt recovery business, which prompts users to enter a password in order to access its website.
But a Craiglist posting that advertises her business appears to mirror the legal maneuvers she's used with the Kirkland mansion. The ad states: "Northwest Note Elimination is a mortgage audit process that perfects a claim on the home ridding it of mortgages. We make mortgages vanish completely. Sounds unbelievable, yes."
Lane was arrested in the driveway of the mansion earlier this month for trespassing.
In court on Thursday, Lane claimed she's ready to change her life. The bank asked the judge to formally evict Lane, but the judge said he had no jurisdiction since Lane had already moved out of the home.
Lane agreed to sign a document admitting she has no rights to the property.
She may be back in court if prosecutors charge her with criminal trespassing. The bank indicated it may file a civil lawsuit against Lane to seek restitution for unpaid rent, attorney fees and court costs.
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