Fight over Nantucket neighbor’s tree cutting ramps up as ‘selfish’ man is slapped with criminal charges

A fight over a Nantucket neighbor’s tree cutting has ramped up as a property owner has been hit with criminal charges after he took drastic measures to improve the view from his property. 

Jonathan Jacoby, 55, was charged Thursday in Nantucket District Court with felony vandalism, trespassing, and destroying trees on another’s land – a set of charges that could land him up to three years in state prison. 

The charges came after he allegedly removed over 16 trees belonging to longtime homeowners Patricia and Richard Belford, as reported by the Boston Globe.

The property feud erupted on the wealthy Massachusetts island after Jacoby allegedly chopped down 50-year-old trees to carve out an ‘ocean view’ for himself.

Patricia Belford, 80, accused the brazen neighbor of breaking onto her Nantucket property and cutting down 16 trees without her permission in February.

According to a $1.4 million lawsuit , Jacoby removed decades-old cherry, cedar and Leyland Cypress trees from the home ‘with the specific purpose of improving the ocean view from his own property.’

When the trees were slashed, Matt Erisman, the property manager of Belford’s $4.2 million home, notified the Nantucket Police Department (NPD), prompting an investigation.

‘It was just a disgusting scene,’ Erisman, 40, told the outlet. ‘Even outside of my professional work, I’ve never seen a neighbor act like that and just deceive their neighbor like he did.’

Jonathan Jacoby allegedly removed decades-old trees from the home ‘with the specific purpose of improving the ocean view from his own property’ He charged Thursday in Nantucket District Court with felony vandalism, trespassing, and destroying trees on another’s land. (pictured: court evidence showing cut down trees on Belford’s land)

Hummock Pond, a salt-water pond on the southwestern part of Nantucket, and Cisco Beach (pictured) are just blocks away from Tautemo Way

Belford herself does not live at the property, located at 1 Tautemo Way, but in an assisted living facility, according to the Nantucket Current .

Jacoby’s former landscaper, Krasimir Kirilov, voluntarily told investigators Jacoby was responsible.

Belford, who is suing on behalf of her family’s trust, claimed losing the trees has caused emotional distress

Belford, who is suing on behalf of her family’s trust, claimed losing the trees has caused emotional distress

In a police statement submitted as lawsuit evidence, Kirilov said Jacoby reached out to him for help cleaning up landscaping work he was going to do on his own.

Once he realized the work was not on Jacoby’s property, Kirilov refused the offer.

‘The NPD concluded that Jacoby entered the property knowingly and willfully and cut the trees for his own personal benefit,’ the lawsuit reads about the ongoing investigation.

Nantucket Police Lieutenant Angus MacVicar told the Nantucket Current there are pending charges against Jacoby.

Belford argued the trees added not only privacy, but value to her home – with a nursey estimating they each could cost thousands of dollars.

Belford and Jacoby are next-door neighbors sharing a property line, but many of the trees taken down were far from it (pictured)

In its Zillow description, the contemporary home has ‘sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean’ and Hummock Pond (pictured)

‘Based on the number of trees removed, the replacement cost alone exceeds $486,000,’ the document, filed on June 23, states.

‘This does not account for the historic value, loss of screening, increased noise, reduction in overall property value.

‘Jacoby’s actions were not only economically damaging but also emotionally devastating for Belford.’