Woman Sentenced for Interfering with Housing Rights of St. Louis Family

ST. LOUIS - A Missouri woman on Thursday pleaded guilty and admitted interfering with the housing rights of a St. Louis family.

U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel then sentenced to Judy Kline, 55, to five years of probation, the maximum term of probation available for the crime. During that time, she must remain in the nursing home where she is currently living and undergoing mental health treatment, or a similar facility. She is also forbidden from contacting the victims or approaching the house where they live. Kline once lived in the home decades ago and mistakenly believed her family still lived there, according to court documents.

Kline admitted as part of her plea that on Jan. 5, 2022, she broke into the victim family's home while armed with a hammer. She entered the basement, struck the dryer with the hammer and then ran up the stairs towards one of the residents, who was able to close and lock the door before she reached the top of the stairs. Kline left the basement, went to the front of the house and hit the front door and lock with the hammer. She shouted a series of statements demanding that the Hispanic family leave the home. She admitted intimidating or interfering with the family based on their race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or natural origin.

Kline apologized during the hearing and said that she is getting help for her mental illness.

The FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug prosecuted the case.