Rita Ortiz, known as the “Lien Queen,” pleaded not guilty Monday after being charged with 25 counts of filing false documents.
Ahead of her arraignment, the 7 On Your Side Investigations team reported on the massive multi-million dollar lien she filed against Southern California homeowners.
But on Monday, we heard from prosecutors that their concerns go beyond just these liens.
In court, we see Ortiz standing behind plexiglass as prosecutors say she poses a “financial” and “physical” threat to the public.
They said Ortiz had been trying to break into a home with young children.
Prosecutors said the family now fears being in their home every day.
The district attorney’s office also told the court that after Ortiz was evicted two weeks ago from a home that prosecutors said she “squattered,” she immediately filed a deed claiming the property was hers.
Prosecutors said that further obscured the title of the legal owner.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman spoke about the case on Eyewitness News on Monday.
“This individual went on to file all kinds of liens, millions of dollars worth of liens, and we will prove in court that those liens are false and she will now be held criminally liable – potentially being sent to state prison as a result,” Hodgman said.
All of this comes after we shared the stories of Beverly Hills-area homeowners who said Ortiz had a $24 million lien placed on them for pro bono cleaning and consulting work.
The owners said they never hired Ortiz to do any work.
After prosecutors successfully argued for her bail to be kept at $700,000, Ortiz responded: “Everything you said was a lie.”
Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 12.
