A member of the iconic Backstreet Boys, Brian Littrell, is embroiled in a legal battle over a trespassing dispute involving his luxurious $3.8 million residence in Florida. The singer has taken legal action against Carolyn Barrington Hill, a 67-year-old sunbather, accusing her of persistent intrusion onto his private beachfront property in Santa Rosa Beach.
Littrell, aged 50, alleges that Hill has repeatedly entered his property without permission, engaging in confrontational behavior by reportedly shouting and cursing at the family’s property manager. This ongoing conflict has led Littrell to file a civil lawsuit, initially submitted on September 19, which claims that Hill has deliberately sought to “antagonize, bully, and harass the Littrell family.”
The lawsuit details instances of alleged trespassing that occurred multiple times from late April through mid-September. This situation highlights the often-complicated nature of property rights in Florida, where the wet sand and water below the mean high-water line are considered public, while the dry sand above it can be privately owned.
The legal complaint further asserts that Hill refused to vacate the premises when informed she was on private property, maintaining her presence despite being asked to leave. Littrell’s legal action underscores the challenges property owners face in maintaining privacy and boundaries at popular coastal locations.
In Florida, the wet sand and water below the mean high–water line are typically public, while the dry sand above said line can be privately owned.
When Hill was informed that she was on private property, she ‘always refused’ to leave, the suit claimed.
In one instance, Hill was told to leave the private beach by a Walton County Sheriff’s deputy, per video published by News 13 and provided by the Littrells’ attorneys.
However, she accused the Backstreet Boy’s property manager of threatening her with a drill.
Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell’s property manager has been accused of threatening beachgoers with a drill after claiming they had trespassed onto private property
Brian Littrell’s wife LeighAnne is pictured confronting sunbathers outside the couple’s beachfront mansion earlier this year
‘I’ve been threatened by him, and next time he gets four feet away from me with that drill, I’m bringing out pepper spray,’ Hill said in the video. ‘Am I allowed to do that, when he does this in front of me?’
The Florida senior filed a motion on November 19 to dismiss Littrell’s suit, News 13 reported. A hearing for that is set for December 11.
Hill initially had problems retaining an attorney and had requested an extension because she could not take time off work to deal with the legal case.
The Littrells’ property manager has been recurrently featured on an Instagram account operated by the Shoreline Defender mobile app, which said it touted public beach access and shoreline rights.
Other beachgoers besides Hill have also claimed he threatened them with a drill after he accused them of trespassing onto private property – forcing police to get involved on at least one occasion.
A video posted on August 5 showed a law enforcement officer telling the property manager: ‘If you go near someone else with that f***ing drill in your hand again, I’m going to take you to jail. You get me? Do you understand me?’
The officer said he had been told by two people that ‘they have felt threatened by you because you have a drill in your hand.’
‘It doesn’t matter how you treat it,’ the officer added. ‘Threat’s a perception, is it not?’
These women are among beachgoers who claim they were antagonized for enjoying Littrell’s ‘private’ beach
He told the Littrells’ property manager that he was ‘walking a fine line.’
A separate clip showed police again confronting the Littrells’ property manager, apparently after a confrontation with a group of female beachgoers.
‘I never used my drill as a weapon,’ the property manager said. ‘Ever.’
The officer told him: ‘Don’t go near them. They are fine.’
The footage showed one of the women asking the police if they should call 911 if the property manager returned and began drilling next to them.
In the suit filed against Hill, the Backstreet Boy alleged that he had been forced to hire security to protect him and his wife Leighanne, 56.
Earlier this year, Littrell had also sued Walton County over alleged trespassers.
Footage of different spats showed the property manager holding the drill in his hand as he argued with beachgoers he claimed were trespassing onto Littrell’s private beach
In a complaint filed June 19, the Backstreet Boys singer claimed the county sheriff’s office was not doing enough to control trespassers who sunbathed on his private Santa Rosa Beach property.
Littrell filed a writ of mandamus, which is a court order that compels a public official to perform a legally–mandated duty, under his company BLB Beach Hut.
The legal filing said: ‘To protect and have peaceful enjoyment of the Subject Property, BLB has put up several ‘No Trespassing’ signs, as well as chairs, umbrellas and small tables delineating BLB’s private property.’
But, the complaint alleged, Littrell and his company’s efforts had ‘been in vain, as numerous trespassers have set out to antagonize, bully and harass the Littrell family by regularly, every day, trespassing on BLB’s beach on the Subject Property, in open defiance of the law.’
Littrell also claimed that he was ‘forced to hire security to protect’ his family.
He alleged to have filled out a ‘Walton County Trespass Authorization Form’ in April, which authorized the sheriff to ‘warn’ and ‘prosecute’ anyone who stayed on Littrell’s private property after being asked to leave.
The complaint cited previous occasions in which Littrell had allegedly asked for police help.
The Backstreet Boys singer, who lives with his wife Leighanne, bought his Santa Rosa Beach home for $3.8million in 2023
Littrell also alleged in a complaint earlier this year that the the county sheriff’s office was not doing enough to prevent sunbathing trespassers from accessing his private beach
According to the legal filing, one such instance happened on May 4, when an officer allegedly stated he ‘doesn’t agree with private beaches’ and also described upholding BLB’s constitutional rights as ‘lunacy.’
About a month later, Littrell claimed trespassers committed ‘battery and theft’ after his property manager showed them documentation proving that they were on private property.
Per the complaint, the trespassers responded by ‘yanking a folder’ out of the manager’s hands, which sent the papers inside flying across the beach.
Littrell’s claim alleged that he had evidence proving the Sheriff’s Office was working against him.
That included body camera footage that allegedly showed ‘multiple instances of disrespect’ regarding his property.
Littrell has been married to wife Leighanne since 2000. They have one son – Baylee, 23.
The Backstreet Boys singer purchased the Santa Rosa Beach home in 2023 for $3.8million.
