Man, His Attorney Charged With Breaking Into Foreclosed Newport Coast Home

A Newport Beach man and his attorney were arraigned Tuesday on charges stemming from their alleged attempt to break into the man's house after a bank foreclosed on it, the Orange County district attorney's office reported.

Rene Hector Zepeda, 72, and his attorney, Michael Theodore Pines, 59, are charged with one misdemeanor count each of vandalism, second degree burglary and the unauthorized entry of a dwelling, the district attorney's office said. Pines faces another misdemeanor count of resiting and obstructing an officer.

Authorities said Pines told Zepeda, who lost his Newport Coast home to foreclosure in 2009, to break into the dwelling and physically repossess it under the rationale that the foreclosure had been illegal. Pines contacted the media and the trustee for the foreclosed home, telling them that Zepeda would take possession of the house at 19 Coral Cay on Oct. 13, according to the D.A.'s office.

Pines and Zepeda, along with a locksmith, arrived at the house on that day, the D.A.'s office said. Police, who had been contacted by the trustee warned them that they could be arrested if they entered the property.

Authorities say Pines told Zepeda to ignore the warning and break into the house. The two broke a window to enter the house, the D.A.'s office said. Pines and Zepeda were arrested, cited and released. They each face a maximum sentence of up to a year in jail and up to $10,000 in fines if convicted, the D.A.'s office said.

Pines' law license was suspended this month, the D.A.'s office said. He also faces criminal charges in separate cases in Ventura and San Diego counties