How Man Who Broke Into Mayor's House During Meth Bender Is Avoiding Jail

LOS ANGELES, CA — The man who broke into Mayor Karen Bass' official residence in April was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to complete a drug treatment program after pleading no contest to felony vandalism on Wednesday.

Ephraim Matthew Hunter, 29, broke into the Getty House, the mayor's Windsor Square residence, on the morning of April 21. He broke a glass door and entered the home while Bass was inside with her daughter, son-in-law and newborn grandson. He tried to get into the bedroom doors and was able to "call out the name" of one of the occupants, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Damage was estimated at between $5,000 and $10,000, prosecutors said.

In addition to probation, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Hunter to spend at least three months in a drug treatment program, six to nine months at a halfway house, pay more than $15,000 restitution and stay away from Bass, her home and City Hall for three years.

If he violates any terms of his sentence, he could be imprisoned for three years.

A felony burglary charge originally filed against him was dismissed. He could have faced over 13 years in prison if he had been convicted as originally charged.

Authorities said previously Hunter targeted the mayor's house, which he denied in an interview with KNX in May.

Hunter told KNX that while on a five-day methamphetamine binge, he was riding a bus on Wilshire Boulevard when another passenger got on board. Thinking that person was after him, he told the driver to stop the bus — which was how he ended up in Bass' neighborhood, KNX reported.

He found his way into the mayor's house because he was looking for a place to hide: He said he had no idea the home was Bass', KNX reported.

Hunter told KNX that reports that he called out for "Karen" were incorrect: He believes in his drug-induced state of mind, he was calling out for his brother, whose name is Aaron, KNX reported.

Hunter's mother, Josephine Duah, told DailyMail.com in April that her son is "losing his mind" and needs help for his mental health.

In 2015, Hunter was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and assault and battery for allegedly joining three other people in attacking a man in Massachusetts. According to the Norfolk District Attorney's Office, the assailants attacked the victim with a hammer and a snow brush. Police found the victim unconscious and he was taken to a hospital and survived his injuries.

Hunter and three other suspects were found in a van with a hammer, a shoe believed to belong to the victim, the victim's pants and some blood in the van's door area, according to the Norfolk District Attorney's Office.

Hunter was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison, court records show.

As part of his plea agreement in LA, Hunter admitted a prior strike for a 2016 Massachusetts conviction.

Los Angeles Police Department Interim Chief Dominic Choi told reporters after the crime that the break-in occurred during a shift change among security officers at the home, so there were no security personnel present. But he said given the size of the Getty House property, even having a security officer there may not have prevented the break-in, which occurred through a back entrance of the home.

He said, however, that the scheduling of security personnel at the property was adjusted to remove any "gap" in coverage. He noted that the mayor's standard LAPD security detail was scheduled to begin its duties at 7 a.m. the day of the crime, and they were heading to the home when the break-in occurred.

City News Service's Terri Vermeulen Keith contributed to this report.