Trial Gets Green Light For Pair Facing Charges For Allegedly Hijacking Vacant Homes In Foreclosure; Duo To DA On Plea Offer: 'Take A Hike!'

In Barstow, California, the Desert Dispatch reports:

• Judge Glenn Yabuno ruled Thursday that there was enough evidence to go to trial for a man and a woman charged with forgery after allegedly renting out several homes going through foreclosure last year.



• Evelyn Thompson, 51, was charged with six counts of forgery and one count of unauthorized property entry last year after Barstow Police conducted an investigation into suspected housing fraud at six Barstow residences. Police said Thompson would pose as a property manager and offer the homes for rent — even though the homes were going through foreclosure and the owners never gave permission to rent the homes.



• Edward Tafoya, 54, was also charged with four counts of forgery after police said he helped Thompson prepare the homes for rental.

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• Both refused plea deals at the beginning of the hearing Thursday that would have landed Thompson in state prison for 16 months and would sent Tafoya to county jail for 180 days with probation. Both Thompson and Tafoya would have had to accept the plea deal to get reduced sentences.



• Thompson remains out of custody on $100,000 bail and Tafoya remains out of custody on his own recognizance. Thompson and Tafoya are scheduled to be arraigned on the updated charges during a hearing June 29.

For more, see Local man, woman accused of housing fraud to stand trial.