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August 28, 2008 20:35:13
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Tayari's charges lowered
Thursday, August 28, 2008
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office has downgraded the criminal theft charge filed against Jersey City Deputy Mayor Kabili Tayari to a disorderly persons offense.
Tayari was arrested in Jersey City on July 2 after a Port Authority police officer pulled his car over because it had been reported stolen by Avis Rent-A-Car at Newark Airport, Essex County spokesman Paul Loriquet said at the time.
Tayari, 57, had not paid his bill for the rental car, which he'd had since April 6, according to his attorney, Philip Matsikoudis.
He is being prosecuted under the name Kabili Tayari, but his name is also in the prosecutor's office's system as Randy Brown, his given name, Loriquet said Tuesday. The spokesman said he did not know which name Tayari used to rent the car, how much he owed, or how long he had the car.
Tayari's next court date is Oct. 7 in the Essex County Special Remand Court, Loriquet said. Tayari has agreed to pay his tab for the rental car as a condition of having the charges downgraded, Loriquet said.
The original criminal charge was a third-degree crime, carrying a possible sentence of up to five years in prison upon conviction, with a presumption of non-incarceration for first-time offenders.
The charge has been downgraded to a disorderly persons offense, or what is sometimes referred to as a misdemeanor, carrying a maximum sentence of 180 days in county jail.
Tayari has been a Jersey City employee for 12 years and earns $105,000 a year as deputy mayor. He was not suspended from his city position after his arrest. Jersey City spokesman Stan Eason said at the time the issue was a "civil matter" and Tayari had no intention of keeping the 2008 Chevy Malibu.
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