Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Charges against state rep to be dropped
Accusations against Emily Slosberg were linked to Jan. trespassing incident at her former residence
State Rep. Emily Slosberg will avoid prosecution on two misdemeanor charges connected to a January trespassing incident at her former Boca Raton residence.
A Boca Raton Police report in March accused Slosberg of hiring a locksmith to “unlawfully” swap out the front door locks for the Caliente Lane home she sold in December.
The reasons for the 37-year-old Democratic state legislator’s actions remain unclear, but she told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that she took “full responsibility” for it. She had previously denied wrongdoing.
In an agreement approved Tuesday by Palm Beach County Judge Robert Panse, Slosberg promised to pay $500 to the victims in the case and complete 25 hours of community service.
The Broward State Attorney’s Office agreed to drop the trespassing and criminal mischief charges in as early as three months, if there are no further violations. Assistant State Attorney Sarahnell Murphy said the victims in the case supported the outcome of the case. Murphy and defense attorney Leonard Feuer negotiated the terms.
Such pre-trial diversion programs are common resolutions for first-time offenders. Both of the charges were second-degree misdemeanors punishable by up to 60 days in jail.
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg requested the case be transferred to the Broward prosecutor because of his office’s “close working relationship” with Slosberg.
Property records show Slosberg sold her home at the end of December to Diosaida Roman, 74, and William Herrera, 73, of Brooklyn, N.Y., for $369,000.
But on Jan. 4, Boca Raton Police received a 911 call from the son of the owners, who had confronted Slosberg and the locksmith at the house and asked them to leave, according to a police report.
Slosberg has been ordered not to have any further contact with the victims in the case. Judge Panse asked the lawyers to return for a case status hearing Nov. 5.
Slosberg won election in 2016 to a seat previously held by her father, Irv Slosberg. She ran unopposed in 2018 to continue her representation of the Boca Raton district.