CLARKSTOWN — More than a year after the town accused a New Square-based property manager of illegally dividing a house into apartments, a jury trial was tentatively scheduled Wednesday for Feb. 28 unless he agrees to a plea deal including a $10,000 fine.
Joseph Klein faces charges in Town Court of failure to obtain a certificate of occupancy and noncompliance with an order to restore the building at 149 Pipetown Hill Road, off Route 59 in Nanuet and across from condominiums and the Hyenga Lake senior complex.
Klein has a history for more than a decade of being cited on municipal and Rockland Health Department charges of subdividing houses into apartments and allowing violations of fire and safety codes to mount.
Klein was paying off $20,000 in fines in Spring Valley last year on guilty pleas to violations at 14 rental properties in the village.
He restored six illegally converted buildings back to single-family homes and had agreed to pay $1,000 a month; he had paid $8,500 as of August.
He challenged the plea agreement with Spring Valley Justice Alan Simon in a state court action. The case is pending.
A Haverstraw village justice ordered Klein to pay a $5,000 fine last year for an illegal conversion at 39 Fairmount Ave.
Clarkstown moved for a trial during a court appearance Wednesday before Justice Craig Johns. Klein’s lawyer could ask for a jury trial on Feb. 28, which could again lead to the case being adjourned.
“This case has been going on for more than a year,” Clarkstown Deputy Town Attorney Paul Schofield said in asking the judge for a trial date. “We’re seeking $10,000.”
Neither Klein or his primary lawyer, Robert Conklin, attended the court session. James Licata, the county public defender, stood in for Conklin as a private attorney.
Licata said Conklin had a court appearance in Ramapo.
Lohud
No comments:
Post a Comment