A court date for the Main Line real estate agents
A court date has been set for the case of Andrea and Jonathan Straub, the two Main Line real estate agents accused of dumping dead animals and commitiing other acts of vandalism in a neighbor's Haverford yard.
Jonathan and Andrea Straub of Haverford will have their day in court next month.
A summary trial date has been set for Aug 6, in front of District Judge Kathleen Valentine, said the office of one of the couple's attorneys. A summary trial usually is held fo lesser offenses, including disorderly conduct, the charge the Straubs each face.
Lower Merion Police received a complaint about the Straubs on June 20, with a neighbor, Mary Martell, charging that they had been vandalizing her property, including dumping dead mice and snakes and taking down her For Sale sign. Martell and the Straubs both have their houses up for sale.
Andrea Straub had been an agent under contract with Prudential Fox & Roach until that company recently severed ties with her since the charges became known. Jonathan Straub was a part-time agent.
Martell heard of the incidents through a housesitter who was at her home while she was reportedly in the hospital. A security camera she installed captured images of the vandals, which police say led them to the Straubs. Police also say that when confronted with the video, the Straubs acknowledged their involvement.
Since then, the couple has said that the only point of friction had been over what they and their defamation attorney, George Bochetto, called an illegally placed sign. They say the housesitter made up all the other accusations.
Bochetto said he plans to hold a press conference to release more information that, he said, would show that the Straubs have been unfairly accused.