A lawyer for convicted landlord Sharok Jacobi said on Monday that he plans to file an appeal to overturn Jacobi’s 45-day prison sentence and a $17,050 fine handed down by the Village of Great Neck last year.
“Hopefully, this will overturn the entire sentence,” said Gregory Bitterman, Jacobi’s defense attorney.
Jacobi, who has returned to the United States from Israel, was convicted of multiple health, safety and building code violations in 2012 for operating an illegal dwelling at 127 Steamboat Road that, according to a 2012 village press release, put multiple families’ lives at risk.
The house included eight illegal apartments, including a tenant living in a locked closet and was plagued by poor light and ventilation, mold and violations of electrical and fire codes, according to the village release.
Jacobi was sentenced to 45 days in prison in November 2013, in addition to having to pay a $17,050 fine.
“The court, taking into account the seriousness of the violations involved, finds that three of the 15-day terms will be served consecutively and the remainder of the terms will be served concurrently,” acting Village Justice Jon Mostel said after the sentencing.
Bitterman and Simon Schwartz, who is also representing Jacobi, said Jacobi was in Israel at the time of the sentencing.
Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman, who has dubbed Jacobi a “slumlord,” acknowledged that Jacobi “has been back for some time.”
Kreitzman said the village has retained a special counsel that will “defend against the appeal.”
The sentencing featured a lengthy back-and-forth between Schwartz and Mostel, with Schwartz questioning the legitimacy of the sentence.
Schwartz said Jacobi should only have received one 15-day sentence for omission, arguing that he could not have known the conditions of his property because it was run by his wife, who he said had a restraining order against him.
Mostel rejected Schwartz’s argument and said Jacobi had acknowledged his role as landlord in previous court proceedings.
“Mr. Jacobi conceded that he was in possession of the property and that he had a certain person collect the rent for him,” Mostel said.
Schwartz also argued that Jacobi had been denied legal counsel during his initial trial.
Mostel said Jacobi had repeatedly been offered counsel and only asked for a lawyer at the end of his trial.
Reach reporter Anthony O’Reilly by e-mail at aoreilly@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x203 and on Twitter @ ORiled_Up. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
