Criminal trespassing, vandalism charges held for trial against alleged apartment squatter, police say

A woman charged with felony criminal trespassing and summary criminal mischief-damaging property for allegedly squatting in a vacant apartment at Hatfield Village Apartments this summer had charges held over for county arraignment following a preliminary hearing this week.

Danielle Renee Shannon, 37, aka Danielle R Melone, no fixed address, was charged Sept. 10 with the offenses by Hatfield Police. Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine held all charges Wednesday for formal arraignment in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on Nov. 13 at 9:30 a.m., per court records.

Shannon is free on $2,500 unsecured bail, per court records.

Police said on July 3 at 12:08 p.m., police responded to the apartments at 2058 Maple Ave. for a report of a squatter refusing to leave.

An apartment complex employee witnessed, police allege, Shannon inside the apartment and walk out of the apartment, as it is believed the apartment was left unlocked while staff was preparing for a future tenant.

Inside the apartment, police said, they found blankets and pillows as if someone were sleeping in the apartment, as well as various food and trash throughout the apartment. The bathroom also had an unflushed toilet with used toilet paper in it and on the floor, police said.

A cleaning bill was provided to police, totaling $115, police said.

The apartment complex employee positively identified Shannon in a photographic array, police said.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.