Jacobs acquitted in drug-deal slaying

An Oceanside man was acquitted of a murder charge but convicted of robbery Tuesday in a botched drug deal that left an Inwood man dead last year.

Nassau County Judge Tammy Robbins will sentence Tyshaun Jacobs, 24, on the robbery charges Jan. 4. He faces 5 to 25 years in prison.

Prosecutors had said Jacobs and James Currie, 25, of Charlotte, N.C., went to Desmond Kelly's house to buy drugs in September 2010. When the deal went bad, they robbed Kelly and one of them shot him, police said. Both men were charged with second-degree murder.

Curry was convicted, and earlier this week Robbins sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison for his role. His lawyer, Dana Grossblatt, said he will appeal.

But Jacobs' lawyer, Michael Elbert, said there was no evidence that his client played any part in the killing.

"Although Mr. Jacobs denies participating in the robbery, we are both grateful that the jury showed more wisdom and common sense than the district attorney in its handling of the murder charge," Elbert said.

"Mr. Elbert's client will spend the next 10 to 25 years in prison for his role in a violent robbery that left Desmond Kelly dead," said John Byrne, spokesman for Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice. "Nassau County is a safer place with Tyshaun Jacobs behind bars."

The jury deliberated for about four days before rendering its verdict, Elbert said.