LITCHFIELD, Ill. — An Illinois folk hero recently found himself on the wrong side of the law.
We first told you the story of "Hobo Jack" Sophir last year. He is a former guest star on the reality show "American Pickers." He's currently in an 18-month legal battle with the City of Litchfield, Illinois.
For more than 40 years, Sophir lived on his Montgomery County farm made famous by reality television.
"If you guys spent a week here, all day long you might see half of what I've got,” Sophir said during a 2012 episode.
That was fine in a rural area of the county, but when "Hobo Jack" started moving his collection into town, he ran into an issue with the city.
"What they considered trash [was] my unrestored antiques,” Sophir said.
"It's accumulating way too much,” Gary Baker, Litchfield building inspector, said. “It's a nuisance."
In March 2022, Baker cited Sophir for failing to maintain his property, accumulating trash and harboring rodents.
"He really did nothing to comply,” Baker said. “If anything he brought more stuff in."
"I have no idea how anyone could get [the] idea that there was an accumulation of garbage here,” Sophir said. “I certainly never saw it."
Eighteen months after receiving those citations, Sophir found himself at the Montgomery County Courthouse facing a bench trial.
However, due to a combination of audio issues, Sophir's hard hearing and a last-minute request by him for a jury trial, the judge continued the case until Dec. 6.
"If they continue with their procedure to have a bench trial, [then] what I am going to do is refuse to participate in it,” Sophir said.
That's why the 91-year-old said he's considering moving out of the city.
"Going back to the farm is an option,” Sophir said despite admitting he didn't have the money to make his farm habitable again.
"It just takes time,” Sophir said.