Rabbi Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse Gets Max Sentence
A prominent Orthodox Rabbi and business man from Brooklyn, New York’s Hasidic community will be spending the next 10-2/3 to 32 years in prison for sexually abusing a teenage boy earlier this decade. The sentence, meted out by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Patricia DiMango, was the maximum penalty.
Baruch Lebovit was found guilty of eight sexual abuse counts last month. Prosecutors said Lebovits molested the now 22-year-old victim in a car on eight occasions in 2004 and 2005. The victim, who was 16 when the abuse occurred, was lured into the car by the promise of driving lessons.
Lebovitz, who has been accused in hundreds of other incidents of sexual abuse, faces charges in two more molestation cases. If found guilty, he could face another eight years in prison.
Lebovitz, who was never officially ordained, was called “Rabbi” as a sign of respect by members of his Borough Park Hasidic community.
