Her 2nd Arrest in 3 Months : Fortuneteller Accused of Curse-Purging Swindle

A Sherman Oaks fortuneteller has been arrested for the second time in three months, accused of taking money from a customer to remove a “curse,” Los Angeles police said Thursday.

Laura Johns, 28, who works under the name Sheena, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft late Wednesday at her Ventura Boulevard house where she operates the fortune-telling business, Detective Steven Hooks said.

Johns was taken into custody after a 32-year-old Mexican immigrant told police that the woman swindled him out of $27,000 during at least three visits to her house in May and June, Hooks said. At the time, Johns was out on bail awaiting trial on three counts of grand theft stemming from an arrest in April, he said.

In that case, a 28-year-old Tarzana woman told police she had given $13,000 to Johns to lift a purported curse on the woman’s brother, police said. After publicity about the arrest, five more people complained about Johns, and two of them pressed charges, Hooks said. Johns is scheduled for trial on those charges later this month in Van Nuys Superior Court, he said.

Promise to Repay

The latest complaint against Johns describes events similar to the earlier complaints, Hooks said. Johns told the man there was a curse on him, Hooks said, then told him to post $27,000 for her to remove the curse. Johns told the man she would pay the money back, but, after she didn’t, the man called police, Hooks said.

Johns was being held Thursday in Van Nuys Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail, Hooks said. She is scheduled for arraignment Monday in Van Nuys Municipal Court, he said.

The state Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that constitutional free-speech protections bar cities from making laws forbidding fortunetellers. Los Angeles had such a law, but the court’s decision rendered it unenforceable.

Some cities have imposed regulations. Long Beach, for example, requires fortunetellers to obtain a permit and post a $2,000 bond. But Los Angeles bunco detectives have opposed such regulation on grounds that it would lend fortunetellers a stamp of legitimacy that they do not deserve, bunco Detective Jose Alcantara said.