Tarrant County has been told to stop accepting documents that allow "squatters" to illegally take possession of other people's homes, the district attorney's office said Monday.
The Tarrant County Clerk's Office has received 60 affidavits of adverse possession, some of which may have been used by people to take possession of vacant or abandoned homes. The district attorney called the documents fradulent filings. District Attorney Joe Shannon said Monday that he can't comment on whether anyone will be prosecuted until paperwork is reviewed.His office will be contacting police chiefs, constables and the Sheriff's Department to encourage officials to pursue criminal prosecution against the squatters, he said.The squatters "could possibly face charges of burglary, theft by deception and fraudulent filing, among others," Shannon said in a news release.The clerk's office also will be contacting the original property owners to inform them of the illegal activity.