Former S.C. Leg. Eli Mystal, who was arrested and charged with offering a false instrument and grand larceny, is expected back in District Court in Central Islip before Judge Gigi Spelman this week.

"I don't think that much will happen at the court appearance next week," said William Wexler, his attorney. "I have not had a chance to sit down and meet with the assistant district attorney on this case, but these are not 'earth shattering,' charges, and we will be preparing his defense." Wexler added that he has been in touch with Mystal only briefly.

Mystal resigned last spring after evidence surfaced following a Newsday story, that he did not live in the district. but had filed a document with the S.C. Board of Elections indicating otherwise. From news stories and other accounts, Mystal lived in Huntington and traveled to and from Florida regularly, making only brief appearances in the 15th L.D.

The charges maintain that between June 1, 2007 and July 31, 2007 Mystal knowingly registered or recorded a statement to the Board of elections "which falsely stated that he lived within the Fifteenth Legisative District, at 56 Colonial Rd., Copiague."

The charge of grand larceny alleges that "while employed as a Suffolk County legislator, he vacated his office by residing outside of the …district and continued to collect his salary in excess of $3,000.