Sasha Masri, a former Saddle Rock trustee candidate facing assault and narcotics charges after an October altercation with Saddle Rock Mayor Dan Levy in Village Hall, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Jan. 9.
Masri was arrested and charged with a felony count of assault with a weapon after allegedly attacking Levy following a verbal argument after a board of trustees meeting.
He was also charged with criminal possession of controlled substance after police officers allegedly found a tablet of the narcotic suboxone in his possession when he turned himself in to police the next day.
Masri’s defense attorney Robert McDonald of Collins, McDonald and Gann said his policy is not to comment on pending cases but expressed confidence in the strength of Masri’s case.
“I anticipate a very strong defense from Sasha,” McDonald said.
The criminal complaint against Masri says that Masri punched Levy in the head while holding a set of keys, causing a deep cut that required 14 stitches. Masri allegedly then picked up Levy and threw him into a bench, fracturing his shoulder, before leaving Village Hall.
Levy kept his arm in a sling for weeks following the incident.
Masri had been an increasingly bitter political opponent of Levy’s. He challenged Levy’s policies at village board meetings and later ran for trustee against Levy supporters.
In March, Masri accused Levy of threatening him with prosecution over alleged discrepancies in his nomination petition during Marsi’s campaign for a trustee seat.
Levy said he elected not to press charges out of concern for the effects such a case would have on the village, which had a population of 822 during the last census.
Masri, who was among three candidates competing for two board seats, lost the election with 15 percent of the vote.
Masri’s previous defense lawyer, Meir Moza, gave an alternative account of the fight in an October interview with the Great Neck News, alleging that Levy attacked Masri, who then acted in self-defense.
“Sasha stood up and talked, and then Levy apparently urged him to get out and cursed his mother,” said Moza. “Sasha came up to him face to face, and at that point pushing and shoving started.”
Moza said he did not know who initiated the violence, but that Masri felt threatened and was punched repeatedly by Levy, who stood over him.
According to Moza, Levy was injured during Masri’s attempts to escape, and Marsi did not intend to hurt the mayor.
Moza also called the police report inaccurate.
“In my option, the DA’s office or the police apparently is trying to use this… as a pretext for the felony [charge],” he said.
Levy disputed Moza’s account in an October interview.
“The police have a very accurate accounting of what [Masri] has done, with pictures, and that’s not in dispute at all,” Levy said.
Masri faces between two and seven years in prison if convicted of the felony assault charge, in addition to potential penalties from the misdemeanor counts.
Masri’s case will next appear in Nassau County Court on Jan. 23. He was indicted by a grand jury in a Dec. 3 hearing.
