Real estate agent gets probation in plea deal

A long-time Colorado Springs real estate agent admitted Thursday to buying spray paint and vegetable oil for teenagers who then vandalized the home of people she was angry with.

Sandra Haddad, 49, pleaded guilty to four felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief. The pleas were part of an agreement with prosecutors, mediated before a senior 4th Judicial District judge.

District Judge Ronald Crowder sentenced Haddad to four years of supervised probation.

He ordered her to perform 200 hours of community service removing graffiti, take anger management classes and serve 15 days of home detention. Haddad paid $17,075 in restitution Thursday as part of the agreement.

She got deferred judgments on the four felonies, which means if she successfully completes probation, the convictions will be wiped from her record.

The Pine Creek home of Greg and Lenae Thomas suffered extensive damage March 23. Obscene phrases and images were painted on walls and windows, lights were broken and the oil left permanent stains on the driveway.

The four 13-year-old boys told police Haddad was angry with the Thomases because they declined to use her as their agent in 2005 and she lost a commission from the sale, according to Colorado Springs police.

At first, Haddad would only admit that she bought the boys the paint and the oil. But Crowder refused to accept her plea because the contributing crime requires the adult "induce, aid or encourage" the minor to break the law.

After a two-hour break, Haddad admitted that by buying the vandalism supplies she "encouraged them."

"I should not have said anything, but I did," Haddad said. "The boys were aware of my feelings about the Thomases."

She apologized to the Thomas family and said she was "disappointed and ashamed" of her actions.

Deputy District Attorney Crystal Littrell said in court that the boys told police Haddad drove them by the house and pointed it out, and the day after the vandalism she told them "they did a good job."

"We find the defendant's conduct appalling, and it has had lasting consequences on this family," Littrell said. "The case has affected the whole community."

The Thomases still have a restraining order against Haddad, and they have filed a lawsuit against her.