NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court has reached a mixed decision in the appeal of a man convicted of harassment in an academic debate about the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Appellate Division's First Department tossed out an identity theft count against Rafael Golb. But it preserved convictions on several other counts.

A defense attorney said Wednesday that he would appeal the decision in the state's highest court. There was no immediate comment from Manhattan prosecutors.

Golb has been free since 2010, when a judge sentenced him to six months in jail.

Prosecutors had accused Golb of using fake e-mail accounts and writing blog posts under assumed names to discredit detractors of his father, a scholar. Golb said the writings were parody protected by free-speech rights.