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Former Slam Dunk to the Beach basketball tournament director Robert F. “Bobby” Jacobs had his day in court Thursday, Jan. 17.
Kent County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Young sentenced Jacobs, 51, of Milford, to two years in prison for one charge of misapplication of funds. The judge suspended the sentence so that Jacobs will serve eight months in prison and spend the remaining year and four months on probation.
On four charges of second-degree forgery, Jacobs was sentenced to two years in prison, but the judge reduced the sentence to one year probation on each charge to run concurrently, said Jason Miller, a spokesman for the state Attorney General’s Office.
Jacobs was also ordered to make restitution of nearly $200,000 to several parties and county and state agencies, including the Delaware Auditor’s Office and the Delaware Department of Justice.
Jacobs, who was arrested last July by U.S. Marshals in Miami, Fla., pleaded no contest to the five felony charges. He was charged with taking an estimated $65,000 from tournament accounts.
The sentencing brings to a close the strange story of Jacobs, who developed the Slam Dunk high school basketball tournament at Cape Henlopen High School into one of the top tournaments in the nation, attracting the likes of NBA superstar Lebron James and numerous high-profile college and professional coaches.
In 2004 Jacobs abruptly cancelled the tournament citing health reasons and disappeared from public view. Not long after, questions surfaced concerning tournament finances. Vendors also complained about nonpayment of bills. After an intensive investigation by the Delaware Auditor’s Office, improprieties were uncovered.
Warrants were issued for his arrest and a manhunt began in August 2006 when he failed to appear in court.
It took almost a year to locate Jacobs after a nationwide manhunt took investigators to New York City and Las Vegas before he was arrested near Miami International Airport.
Contact Ron MacArthur at ronm@capegazette.com
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