Twersky’s Butler goes Free: Rockland Judge Overturns New Square Resident’s Arson Sentence

A New Square resident who got a seven-year prison sentence for trying to burn down a house in April 2012 has been set free this week in front of a Rockland County judge.

State Supreme Court Justice William Kelly made the decision Tuesday afternoon, at a resentencing hearing ordered by an Appeals Court. Upon reconsidering the case, Judge Kelly granted Shaul Spitzer “youthful offender” status for the crime he committed when he was 18 years of age. Judge Kelly cited a noted change in Spitzer’s temperament after three and a half years in prison.

Spitzer admitted in the past to trying burn down a house on Truman Avenue in the middle of the night on May 22, 2011, because the residents of the home would not pray at Rabbi David Twersky’s temple. When the victim Aron Rottenberg confronted Spitzer, he was burned across more than 50 percent of his body after the firebomb exploded.

Spitzer, who was living as a butler at Twersky’s home at the time, denied he acted on anyone’s behalf. Spitzer claimed at the resentencing that he now realizes what he did was wrong, detrimental to his community and said that he’s matured in prison.

Rottenberg had asked Judge Kelly to make Spitzer serve the rest of his sentence. He expressed dismay at the judge’s sudden change of heart. Kelly said he made his decision according to the law and does not care what people might say about him.

Portions of this article were originally published on www.monsey.com