Public library offers spring computer classes

For The Times Herald

NORRISTOWN » The Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library Computer Lab is excited to announce that registration has begun for its spring 2018 season of classes. This will be the library’s fifteenth year offering computer classes to the Norristown and greater Montgomery County area.

Classes cover a diverse set of topics, including computer fundamentals, Microsoft Office and the Internet. The classes are “handson,” with each student seated at his or her own computer, where they follow along with the instructor, whose screen is projected at

iels said.

“This office will continue to stand up for our elderly citizens who are victimized by people,” Daniels added.

Authorities alleged personal belongings of the victim had been removed from the home by the squatters and were lost, stolen or sold. The squatters also made changes to the home.

During a separate restitution hearing on Monday, Judge Ferman ordered Muhammed and Fretwell to share in the payment of $8,825 in restitution to the victim’s granddaughter, who choked back tears as she revealed her 90-yearold grandmother died in January.

“I’m sorry you had to go through this. I can tell from your testimony that this has been an incredibly emotional experience,” Ferman addressed the victim’s granddaughter.

Ferman said the amount of restitution sought by the victim’s family and prosecutors was a “modest request,” considering that the real loss is likely much greater. The victim’s granddaughter, of Collegeville, provided the judge with a list containing items that represented only a fraction of what went missing or what was damaged in the home.

“I was just heartbroken,” the victim’s granddaughter testified, recalling her emotions when she observed the encased memorial flag from her grandfather’s funeral was discarded by the squatters on the driveway.

The woman’s grandfather died in 2007 and was a U.S. Navy veteran, testimony revealed.

“She saw that it (the flag) was strewn in the driveway like it was trash. So this was a case that had both a financial toll and an emotional toll,” Daniels said.

An investigation began in January 2017 when a lawyer representing the victim’s family notified police that the Lawnton Road home was occupied by someone, when it should be vacant, and that no one had permission to be on or inside the property.

“Our investigation revealed that Mr. Muhammed as well as Miss Fretwell had set up shop and were either living or attempting to live in that home,” Daniels alleged.

Authorities alleged Muhammed and Fretwell changed the locks on the doors, paid taxes on the residence and even opened accounts for electric service and trash collection at the residence.

“They had taken steps to make it appear as though they owned this home and lived in this home when in reality they did not in any way,” Daniels said.

When confronted about taking up residence at the home, Muhammed and Fretwell produced receipts indicating they paid property taxes on the home.

“Yahya stated he felt because he paid the taxes he owned the property,” East Norriton Detective Anthony Caso alleged in the arrest affidavit.

Detectives said Muhammed and Fretwell could not provide any documentation that they owned the home. The pair allegedly claimed they were misinformed by unidentified people that they could pay taxes and own the house in seven years, according to the arrest affidavit.

“Their claim was that if they were paying taxes on the home that they owned the home. That is completely untrue,” Daniels alleged. “The home was not on a tax loss list, it was not up for sheriff’s sale, there was no foreclosure.”