Prosecutors who won convictions against the founder of a Lakewood special education school are appealing his sentence of probation and 60 days in jail.

The sentence fell far short of the 12-year prison term prosecutors argued Rabbi Osher Eisemann, of the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence, deserved. It also deviated from state statute, which says Eisemann faced a presumptive sentence of five to 10 years in prison for each of two second-degree convictions for money laundering and misconduct by a corporate official.

Now prosecutors have asked an appeals court to review the punishment doled out by Superior Court Judge Benjamin Bucca, sitting in Middlesex County, according to a spokesman for the state Office of the Attorney General.

Eisemann's defense lawyer, Lee Vartan, said Thursday he also will file an appeal addressing various issues that came up during trial.

"Given the state’s appeal we really have no choice but to appeal as well," he said. "We'll be filing a similar notice of appeal in the coming days."

After an hours-long and emotional sentencing hearing last month, Bucca overrode the presumption of prison time based on several factors, including Eisemann's "selfless life" and dedication to special education via the school Eisemann began in 1995. Vartan said at the time he was aware of only two other cases when judges had overrode prison time on second-degree offenses.

Prosecutors argued Eisemann should go to prison because he had not taken responsibility for his crimes and argued Eisemann's good deeds were not an excuse for criminal activity. They noted in court filings he was found guilty of four unrelated municipal court violations that occurred six months after he was indicted. Municipal records show the violations were for not obtaining a landlord license and not registering rental properties in Freehold Borough.

"Such conduct may augur his continued disregard for the law," the state argued in a court filing.

Though the judge did acknowledge Eisemann showed no remorse for his crimes, Bucca also took an extraordinary step to support the defendant, recommending Eisemann be allowed to return to work at the school even though Department of Education regulations prevent it.

The judge's endorsement may not be enough.

The New Jersey Department of Education notified Eisemann after the sentencing hearing that he was disqualified from employment at the school because of his convictions, according to Vartan. Vartan said discussions are ongoing about Eisemann's future involvement.

A Department of Education spokesman did not respond to a request for comment by deadline Thursday.

Eisemann stepped away from his leadership role at the school while the criminal case was unfolding.

In February, a jury found the 62-year-old man guilty of funneling $200,000 in school money through multiple other bank accounts to make it appear he repaid a personal debt to the school. The jury acquitted Eisemann of three other counts, including allegations he used public money earmarked for education for other purposes.

Hear the verdicts being read in the video at the top of this story.

The School for Children with Hidden Intelligence receives more than $20 million each year from public school districts to educate students with severe developmental disabilities.

The Lakewood Public School District pays the bulk of that money and has faced criticism that it discriminates against minority students when sending students to the school. The School for Children with Hidden Intelligence serves predominately Orthodox Jewish children, officials have said.

Stacey Barchenger writes about Lakewood, New Jersey’s fastest-growing municipality. She is interested in how that rapid change impacts local residents. Contact her @sbarchenger; 732-427-0114; sbarchenger@gannettnj.com.