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- Mickey Barreto resided in the New Yorker Hotel without paying rent for several years prior to his recent arrest.
- Barreto is facing 24 charges, including multiple counts of felony fraud.
- Experts concluded that Barreto is unfit for trial, leading a judge to mandate treatment.
The Unusual Case of Mickey Barreto: Living Rent-Free and Facing Legal Troubles
A man who lived at the renowned New Yorker Hotel without paying any rent for over five years has been deemed unfit to stand trial by medical experts.
Mickey Barreto allegedly claimed ownership of the hotel and even attempted to collect rent from another resident. In February, he was charged with submitting fraudulent property documents by law enforcement officials from Manhattan’s District Attorney’s office.
Currently, Barreto faces a total of 24 charges, which include 14 counts classified as felony fraud.
Legal Proceedings and Mental Health Evaluation
This past summer, two doctors assessed that Barreto lacked an understanding of his legal situation. Consequently, a court ordered him into outpatient mental health care and addiction treatment in hopes that his condition would improve. This information was reported by The New York Times.
During a recent hearing on Wednesday, Judge Cori Weston expressed dissatisfaction with the progress made in Barreto’s treatment plan. She subsequently mandated inpatient care instead. The judge has given him until November 13 to secure placement in an appropriate facility; coincidentally, this date also marks his next scheduled court appearance according to official records.
The Role of Legal Representation
Brian Hutchinson, representing Barreto, indicated plans to request admission into inpatient care at his current provider—the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai West. He noted that there is consensus regarding how substance abuse issues are complicating other aspects related to this case:
“We all agree that substance abuse is contributing significantly to these challenges and hindering progress,” Hutchinson stated during an interview with The Times.
Both Hutchinson and representatives from District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office did not respond promptly when approached by Business Insider regarding details about Barreto’s mental health evaluation.
A Controversial Claim: Drug Use or Just ‘Partying’?
Dismissing allegations concerning drug addiction as mere “partying,” Barrett contends prosecutors are attempting hospitalization due to their inability to build a strong case against him according to reports from The Associated Press.
The Initial Stay at the Iconic Hotel
In June 2018, Barrett briefly stayed with partner Matthew Hannan in room 2565 at the New Yorker Hotel after paying $200.57 for one night’s accommodation. Armed with knowledge about New York City’s Rent Stabilization Code—which allows tenants residing in buildings constructed before 1969 certain rights—Barreto requested a lease shortly thereafter but was swiftly evicted instead.
This led him down an unexpected legal path involving housing court proceedings against Holy Spirit Association for Unification World Christianity (the hotel’s owner since its purchase in 1976)...
A Series Of Legal Maneuvers And Consequences
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