By Howard Breuer
Staff Writer
PASADENA - An 80-year-old Altadena woman with a series of recent arrests pleaded no contest Thursday to battery for spraying Raid on her neighbor during afternoon tea.
Pasadena Superior Court Judge Judson W. Morris Jr. reluctantly freed Dixie Carlene Granat after two months in jail upon her promise to stay sober, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and avoid trouble.
"I will behave like an old lady should," Granat promised the judge. "I will sit in my rocking chair ... I'll only drink lemonade."
Morris repeatedly emphasized he was apprehensive about releasing Granat, whose recent cases also include trying twice to run people over with her pink Suzuki Samurai (since impounded), trespassing at Santa Anita Park and maintaining unsanitary conditions at her home.
He ordered her to return July 9 for a probation-violation hearing, and said she'd better be wearing a pretty hat and dress and not a jailhouse jumpsuit.
"I'm really holding my breath on this one," Morris said. "You gotta behave."
His comments were indicative of the dilemma Granat has posed to the criminal justice system, which struggled during her recent incarcerations to determine whether she is a violent criminal or a nasty drunk, a mentally ill offender or just a colorful octogenarian looking for a good time.
Granat wasn't deemed insane although she admits to being "bipolar, bicoastal and bi- a few other things."
Instead, officials have been holding conservatorship hearings to determine if Granat should live in an assisted-care facility. The next hearing is June 26.
Granat told Morris she will try to sell her West Mendocino Street house and move to a nursing home in Long Beach.
That may satisfy the conservatorship court if it determines the facility meets Granat's needs, said her attorney, Graciela Valenzuela.
Valenzuela added she's hopeful Granat doesn't get arrested again.
"I hope it works out for that woman," Valenzuela said.