Munitions company CEO who cut down his New Jersey neighbor’s trees ‘to improve view of NYC skyline’ fined $13,000 and faces $1 million in potential damages
A New Jersey CEO who cut down 32 of his neighbor’s trees so he could improve his view of New York City from his mansion had his fine cut in half, but is still facing a bill that could cost him $1 million.
Grant Haber entered into a plea deal for violating local law in the town of Kinnelon, New Jersey, which requires a permit to be obtained before removing trees, after he allegedly hired individuals to cut down 32 mature trees on the property of his neighbor Samih Shinway.
He initially faced fines of up to $32,000, but the deal reduced that to about $13,194.
Haber may not be done paying yet, however, as the city’s attorney believes he may have to foot the bill to replace and care for the fallen trees at a cost of more than $1 million.
âWe are certainly facing substantial penalties,â Kim Kassar said in October.
A New Jersey man who cut down 32 of his neighbor’s trees so he could improve his view of New York City from his mansion had his fine cut in half, but is facing a bill that could cost him $1 million
âBut they pale in comparison to the potential restitution claims, which are approaching or even exceeding seven figures.â
Haber, a security officer for a counterterrorism firm, allegedly sold the Kinnelon home for $1.8 million â after purchasing the property for $1.3 million in 2014 â in November 2023, just months after the allegations. can use.
For his part, Shinway says he will never be “100 percent satisfied” with the sanctions.
“I always use the analogy that if you hire someone to punch someone, he or she is just as liable as the person who did it,” Shinway said. The record.
Asked whether he planned to sue Haber, he simply said, “I can’t answer that question right now.”
Haber told the court he would pay the $13,000 fine within the next 30 days and will now face restitution hearings at the provincial level. The next hearing is scheduled for April 19.
Photos taken at the property last July show the extensive mess left behind by those hired to carry out the work.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Shinway said that one day he came home to a crew of men who were clearing trees from his property.
Grant Haber, pictured here, is alleged to have violated local laws requiring a permit to cut down trees
Photos taken at the property show the massive mess left behind by those hired to clean up the job
Samih Shinway, pictured here, said he came home one day to a crew of men clearing trees from his property
A private property sign is clearly visible attached to a tree where Haber allegedly paid the men to cut them down
He said: âWhen I got home on February 27, I heard chainsaws and rode my four-wheeler to see where the noise was coming from.
‘I saw a tree chopper and four men on my property, and they were also on my cousin’s property.
‘Haber tried to pretend it was a big mix-up. The workers immediately blamed him and he denied everything and told them all to leave.
âHaber came out and said, ‘Isn’t this a disaster?’ Who would do this?’. Since he cut down the trees, there have been a lot of crows and soil erosion.
‘When I was in the backcountry with the ranger, he let his two dogs out and they bothered us.
‘He shouted at the dogs from 15 meters away, but didn’t really want to come and get them.
‘The fine is $32,000, but the damage is estimated at approximately $1.9 million.
‘A typed and unsigned letter arrived in our mailbox saying that he is not a bad neighbor and that he moved here because he loves nature. Otherwise he has nothing to say.’
A large part of the forest has been completely cut down, leaving part of the forest free.
Shinway estimates that total damage to the area totals more than $1.9 million
Photos taken at the property show the massive mess left behind by those hired to clean up the job
Haber, pictured here on the left, is said to have hired a team of workers to remove the trees
Haber, pictured here on One American News, is the founder of American Innovations, a New York-based ammunition company
Haber’s property can easily be seen from Shinway’s property in this photo
In total, Haber was fined for cutting down 32 trees on the property, totaling $32,000
Haber is expected to appear in court later next month in connection with the incident
John Linson, a forest ranger in Kinnelon, New Jersey, told us the Courier Magazine that he had fined Haber for his alleged actions.
Linson told the news site: “All I can say is that 32 trees were removed without a permit.”
Their home comes complete with a plot that extends to just under seven acres and has an outdoor pool with a waterfall, as well as a gym and games room.
Haber is the founder of American Innovations, a New York-based munitions company that revolutionized an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) detection kit.