Phony psychic has charges in the cards

If Janet Adams were really as psychic as advertised, she may have seen her arrest on theft charges coming — particularly as 46-year-old has previously been imprisoned for the same allegations of profiting through propheticism

Instead, authorities say Adams’ skills appear more thespian-oriented, bilking an 85-year-old woman of more than $80,000 by claiming both of their husbands would die if she didn’t turn over the money.

On Friday, Adams, owner of the Psychic and Crystal Vision shop in San Mateo’s Laurelwood Shopping Center, pleaded not guilty to one count of theft from an elderly person with an enhancement of excessive taking more than $65,000.

San Mateo police arrested Adams Thursday night on a $500,000 arrest warrant. The bond was upheld Friday and Adams was ordered to prove that any funds posted came from a legitimate source rather than from allegedly misleading customers.

One such customer, the source of Adams’ charges, visited the San Mateo shop on a whim in January for a tarot card reading. Adams began victimizing her immediately and encouraged her to come back multiple times, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

On the third visit, he said, Adams began "shaking and crying and saying the woman’s husband would die of a heart attack if she didn’t pay $13,000 for prayers.”

The alleged victim paid the money but on the next visit Adams said her own husband was hospitalized and would die without $9,000 for treatment, Wagstaffe said.

"This was akin to blackmail, saying somebody would die without a specific amount of money,” he said.

More money was allegedly garnered by Adams through stories about funeral expenses and her oldest son’s medical needs, for a total of $80,330.

In early December, the woman’s husband noticed the substantial withdrawals and learned about her payments to Adams.

Wagstaffe said he hopes there aren’t more victims but wouldn’t be surprised.

Adams already has multiple victims in her past. In 2003, she was sentenced to two years prison for taking $15,000 from a 19-year-old woman while working as a palm reader and psychic at the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin festival. Adams told the woman her family was in danger and kept the woman coming back to protect them.

At the time, Adams was on probation for taking money the same way from a San Mateo man the previous year.

In 2007, Adams set up shop in Utah. She told the Dixie Sun newspaper she can tell the past, present and future of a person by holding an object belonging to them.

Adams’ previous criminal conviction could tack an extra year onto any sentence, leaving her facing up to five years in prison if convicted.

And what about the outcome of Adams’ latest case?

Authorities declined to predict.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102.