ORTHODOX CHILD SEX ABUSE DETAILS REVEALED:

REPORT BROOKLYN PROSECUTORS 

CONFIRM FORWARD'S REPORTS OF ARRESTS

The included links go into much greater detail about these molestations by the Rabbis.

By Forward Staff

The Jewish Daily Forward

December 11, 2011.

Brooklyn prosecutors say authorities authorities have arrested 85 people in the Orthodox Jewish community on child sex abuse charges in the past three years, the New York Post reported Sunday, confirming earlier reports in the Forward.

According to Mail on line:

An initiative was set up to encourage victims to come forward despite pressure from the close-knit religious society to hush up the crimes.

Some 117 male and female victims have approached authorities in Brooklyn, New York since 2006. There were 89 accusers under the age of 17. 

Prosecutors in the office of Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes told the Post that 38 of the sex cases had been closed so far, with 14 convictions. The suspects got jail time ranging from a month to up to 20 years for crimes that included sex abuse, attempted kidnapping, and sodomy, the paper said. 

Twenty-four suspects were freed after the cases against them fell apart, the report said.

The rest of the cases are still pending under a controversial program called Kol Tzedek, or Voice of Justice, which aims to coax victims in the insular community to come forward about abuse.

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The paper cited Assistant D.A. Rhonnie Jaus, chief of the sex crimes bureau. The Forward requested an interview with Jaus several weeks ago. That request was declined.

Hynes’s office did not immediately respond for a request for comment Sunday.

Among those accused is Andrew Goodman, 27, who worked for Ohel and other Jewish social-service agencies. The Post says he is charged with sexually abusing two Orthodox boys for years in Flatbush, and filming sex acts dating back to 2006, according to the 144-count indictment, which alleges numerous violations since 2006.

Goodman has pleaded not guilty.

The Forward first broke the news weeks ago that nearly 90 Orthodox men had been arrested on child abuse charges. At that time, prosecutors refused to furnish any additional information about the cases, but suggested they would do so by the end of November.

  Lebovits, raped hundreds of children.

Among the cases reported by the Forward was that of Boro Park Rabbi Baruch Lebovits, who was sentenced last year to up to 32 years in prison after being convicted of sex abuse.

Victims’ rights advocates hailed it as a turning point in the battle against sexual abuse in the insular Orthodox community. But Lebovits is now free on bail and his conviction is now unraveling amid allegations of perjury, conspiracy and extortion.

Just last week, Hynes’ spokesman Jerry Schmetterer refused to return calls from the Forward asking for more information about the cases.

 Goodman, pleads not guilty. Blames "troubled" and/or disabled clients.

According to the New York Post, one suspect Andrew Goodman, 27, worked with Jewish charities involving vulnerable young people and the disabled.

He was charged with sexually abusing two Orthodox boys at his home in the Flatbush neighbourhood last September.  

One child was abused between the ages of 11 and 15, the other from 13 until he was 16 years old.

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Goodman reportedly filmed sex acts with the boys on a webcam after plying them with alcohol in his bedroom and making them watch child porn. 

Neighbours had filmed Goodman sneaking the children into the home he shared with his parents and sister between 3am and 5.30am. 

In the surveillance tape, Goodman was seen opening his front door for the boys, according to the Post.  

Lubricants, empty liquor bottles, boys’ clothing and a butcher knife were discovered in the 27-year-old's room. 

Goodman’s lawyer Izzy Fried told the New York Post that the alleged victims were 'troubled kids' and his client had provided them with a 'safe haven'. 

Hushed up: The Orthodox Jewish community has been reluctant to turn suspected child abusers over to authorities in the past but an initiative in Brooklyn aims to help victims come forward

He also threatened the life of one boy who reported him to authorities, it has been claimed. Goodman has pleaded not guilty.

He is being held at Rikers Island Prison until his next hearing on December 21. 

After being shown the footage in court last September, Judge Patricia DiMango set the suspected paedophile's bail at $1million.  

Brooklyn District Attorney's office had been accused of being soft on child abusers which lead to steps being put in place to make it easier for suspected victims to come forward. 

The plan was called Kol Tzedek which translates from Hebrew as 'voice of justice'. 

DA Charles Hynes instigated the outreach programme which offers a confidential hotline and access to 'culturally sensitive' social workers from the sex crimes bureau. 

Assistant DA Rhonnie Jaus, head of the child sex abuse division, said 38 individuals had been prosecuted so far with 14 abusers jailed. 

Sentences varied from one month to 20 years for crimes including sex abuse, attempted kidnapping and sodomy.

However 24 alleged paedophiles were not jailed. In some instances, the case against them collapsed when victims and their families backed out of giving evidence in court following pressure from the religious community, according to the assistant DA. 

Authorities have another 47 cases pending. 

The Orthodox Jewish organisation Agudath Israel of America, which has its headquarters in Manhattan, rules that anyone who claims to have been  sexually abused by another Jew must consult rabbis first.

Only then is the decision made whether to go to secular authorities.

Goodman worked for OHEL Children's Home and Family Services which provides care for vulnerable children and disabled adults. The non-profit group aims to help victims who have suffered domestic, sexual or emotional abuse.