A woman who refuses to stop bothering patrons at the Bethlehem YMCA and Wegmans supermarket was found not competent to stand trial on 21 trespassing charges.

Kathleen Rich has been repeatedly warned over the past two years to stay away from the YMCA and the supermarket in Hanover Township but insists on returning because she feels she needs to "defend her life, honor and dignity."

The 74-year-old Bethlehem resident, who is diagnosed with delusional disorder-personality type, believes people are spreading rumors in the community about her sexual promiscuity and needs to speak to strangers at the above locations to clear her name.

She faces four charges of trespassing at the supermarket and 17 at the YMCA. These charges come in addition to 47 police responses at the YMCA and 28 at the supermarket over the past two years.

Northampton County Judge Samuel Murray found her not competent to stand trial after a hearing Aug. 18. His decision was issued Sept. 13 and mailed to attorneys on Sept. 19.

Police and court officials have struggled with how to handle Rich's behavior. Despite her diagnosis by psychiatrist Alex Thomas, Rich refuses to comply with mental health treatment. Her behavior is criminal enough to warrant charges but not serious enough to warrant forced hospitalization or treatment, officials have said.

Rich has said she just wants to talk to patrons, but police chiefs say her behavior upsets them.

"Her comments to shoppers are not solicited and are very sexually explicit," said Colonial Regional Police Chief Roy Seiple in April. His jurisdiction includes the Wegmans in Hanover Township.

"You can't just trespass and fight or scream and curse at people," added Bethlehem police Chief Mark DiLuzio in April.

Seiple said Tuesday he will abide by Murray's decision.

"I hope some type of treatment is ordered," he said.

Rich went to prison for at least three brief stints when she refused to comply with orders to stay away from the YMCA and Wegmans. She posted bail and was released in each case.

Her 21 trespassing charges are temporarily on hold due to her competency status. The judge can order a new evaluation every 90 days.

Eventually her attorney, Jennifer Toth, can ask for the charges to be dropped if Rich never becomes competent to stand trial. The maximum penalty for each of her offenses is a year in prison.

Toth did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Assistant District Attorney David Ceraul said he believes treatment is strongly recommended for Rich, but it's unclear whether she will comply with it or can be ordered to comply.

She was involuntarily committed to a mental health facility at the time of her competency hearing. The judge's order says she participated in the hearing via video conference.

It appears she was released at some point because she filed a handwritten civil lawsuit on Sept. 5 against the Bethlehem YMCA. The lawsuit says the YMCA is discriminating against her by banning her. She claims she is banned on the basis of "sex discrimination."

She seeks $12,000 in the lawsuit, although, "no amount of money may compensate for what I have been going through for decades."

The retired French teacher has been institutionalized for schizophrenia in the past. She lives alone, takes care of her personal affairs and has lived crime-free in the recent past with the exception of her trespassing.

According to Murray's order, Rich was "loud and agitated" during her evaluation. She is likely to be disruptive and to disregard the judge's orders if she stands trial, according to Thomas' evaluation.

According to Thomas, Rich wanted to call members of the "Rat Pack" to testify at her trial. These include the late Frank Sinatra and the late Sammy Davis Jr.

THE CHARGES

Rich was charged with defiant trespass on all of these dates. The charges are pending unless otherwise noted. She remains not competent to stand trial.

Jan. 18, 2016, ShopRite in Greenwich Township, charge dismissed

May 3, 2016, Hanover Township Wegmans, charge withdrawn

May 11, 2016, Hanover Township, charge withdrawn

Sept. 7, 2016, Hanover Township

Sept. 23, 2016, Bethlehem YMCA (non-traffic citation)

Sept. 30, 2016, Bethlehem

Oct 21, 2016, Bethlehem

Oct. 26, 2016, Hanover Township

Oct 28, 2016, Bethlehem

Oct. 30, 2016, Bethlehem

Nov. 9, 2016, Hanover Township

Nov. 23, 2016, Hanover Township

Nov. 25, 2016, Bethlehem

Dec. 2, 2016, Bethlehem

Dec. 9, 2016, Bethlehem

Dec. 16, 2016, Bethlehem

Dec. 23, 2016, Bethlehem

Feb 3, 2017, Bethlehem

Feb 14, 2017, Bethlehem

Feb 21, 2017, Bethlehem

June 6, 2017, Bethlehem

June 13, 2017, Bethlehem,

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.