Career criminal Ephraim Hunter who broke into Getty Mansion while L.A. Mayor ... trends now
The man who broke into Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' home over the weekend had a nervous breakdown while on drugs and thought he was being threatened and chased before he ran into the her mansion, his family claims.
Ephraim Matthew Hunter, 29, was arrested Sunday morning after he broke into the famed Getty House on Irving Boulevard, the L.A. mayor's official residence.
Hunter's mother, Josephine Duah, told DailyMail.com on Monday she spoke to her son, who is still in a L.A. jail on a $100,000 bail hold, according to L.A. County Sheriff's Department jail records.
'My son is losing his mind,' said Duah in tears. 'He thought people were chasing him and he ran into that house randomly. He wasn't trying to break into the mayor's house.
Ephraim Matthew Hunter, 29, was arrested Sunday morning after he broke into the famed Getty House on Irving Boulevard, the L.A. mayor's official residence
Family members said Ephraim Matthew Hunter, 29, had a mental breakdown and was on drugs the day he broke into LA Mayor Bass' home in the Windsor Square neighborhood.
Karen Bass was inside the home with her family when Hunter broke a window and gained entry into the Getty House, which is the mayor's official residence
Hunter had a troubled past with drugs and was arrested in 2015 in Massachusetts for kidnapping and attempted murder
'Thank God it wasn't someone who would've pulled a gun and shot him because he was just trying to run away from someone he thought was trying to get him.
'He didn't know where he was and what he was doing. The truth is, he needs mental help.'
L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón announced on Tuesday afternoon that charges were filed against Hunter, including first-degree residential burglary with a person present and one count of vandalism causing $400 or more in damage.
The charges filed against Hunter also include an allegation of a prior strike out of Massachusetts.
Bass, her daughter, son-in-law and newborn grandson were at the home during the Sunday break-in, but were not harmed.
Gascón added investigators believe Hunter targeted Bass and knew it was her home.
Mayor Karen Bass has lived at the Getty home since taking office
He appeared at a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday afternoon where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Hunter was ordered to return to court on May 6 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial.
He faces up to 13 years and four months in prison if convicted as charged.
Hunter broke a glass window at about 6:40 a.m. Sunday while the mayor and her family were inside the home, triggering an alarm that alerted police, LAPD spokesman Officer Jeff Lee told DailyMail.com.
Investigators said Hunter was cut by the glass and left blood stains throughout the residence.
'Mayor Bass and her family were not injured and are safe,' the mayor's office said in a statement. 'The Mayor is grateful to LAPD for responding and arresting the suspect.'
At Hunter's court hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Chung told the judge the home's 'occupants' were sleeping when Hunter allegedly 'bodily' broke the rear door.
He then tried to get into the bedroom doors and called 'out the name' of one of the occupants.
Bass' name was not mentioned during the hearing.
Damage was estimated at between $5,000 and $10,000, according to the Chung.
Deputy Public Defender Carlos Bido told the judge his client wanted to either be released on his own recognizance or on house arrest, and added Hunter could not afford to post the $100,000 bail amount.
LAPD Interim Chief Dominic Choi on Tuesday said the break-in happened during a security shift change, so there were no personnel guarding the home at the time of incident.
Hunter's mother, Josephine Duah, told DailyMail.com her son moved to California to get away from his troubled past and bad influences. She said she was holding down a 'good paying job' before her son got into drugs again
He added the LAPD detail at the mayor's home usually started at 7 a.m. Sunday and security was headed to the home when the back entrance break-in occurred.
Choi said the scheduling 'gap' has since been addressed.
Hunter was
