"We're actually trespassing. And so this is a way of civil disobedience," Beverly told the reporter. "Legally, it's wrong. But homesteading is the only means that she has left to stay in her house. We feel as though this is the right thing to do at this particular time to save this family."
Shortly after 10 a.m. yesterday, Beverly walked into the Southeastern District police station with his attorney, Justin Brown, and turned himself in on the fourth-degree burglary charge. He and his attorney declined to comment.
Anthony Guglielmi, a Baltimore police spokesman, said: "Congress and the [General] Assembly passed laws, and it's up to the Police Department to enforce them."
Stuart Katzenberg, lead organizer for ACORN's Maryland chapter, said in a statement: "We continue to take actions across the country in order to prevent unnecessary home foreclosures and stand in solidarity with our members who are resisting these foreclosure actions."
ACORN has recently increased its efforts to block foreclosures in Baltimore. In addition to last week's break-in, scores of members tried to block a foreclosure auction outside the Circuit Courthouse last month. Sheriff's deputies threatened them with arrest and the group dispersed.
Hanks bought her 1,300-square-foot rowhouse in 2001 for $87,000, according to state property records. She filed for bankruptcy in July 2006, noting that she made about $25,000 a year working for a Baltimore hotel and that she had an outstanding claim against an insurer for a house fire, records show.
When U.S. Bank, based in Minneapolis, foreclosed last year, Hanks owed more than $262,000, court records show.
Hanks could not be reached for comment yesterday.
FORECLOSURE AID?
* The City Council is considering a plan to extend the time between a foreclosure and an eviction from 14 days to 365 days.
* Proponents say it would encourage lenders to renegotiate the terms of troubled mortgages and keep people in their homes.
* Opponents fear it would prolong the housing crisis by rewarding people for not paying their bills.
