Gless Admits Living at House That Was Invaded

Actress Sharon Gless, co-star of the “Cagney and Lacey” TV series, testified Wednesday that she lied when she told reporters she did not live at the Studio City house that an obsessed fan allegedly invaded with a .22-caliber rifle.

Testifying at a preliminary hearing for Joni Leigh Penn, Gless said she was worried that disclosure of her address would lead to “copycat” incidents by other fans. Gless, through her publicist, had earlier told reporters that the house was used primarily as an office and that she lived elsewhere.

The issue of whether Gless lived at the house is important because Penn cannot be found guilty of residential burglary if the dwelling was not Gless’ primary residence, said Penn’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Mitchell Bruckner.

Penn, 30, of Garden Grove was charged with two counts of residential burglary after police said she barricaded herself in the Studio City house March 30. Police persuaded Penn to give herself up after a seven-hour standoff.