Borough Park, NY - Lawyers Seeking Reversal of 32-Year Sentencing After Arrest of Man For Bribing Witness

Last updated on: Today 12:35 PM

Borough Park, NY - Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes announced the indictment of Samuel Kellner, 49, charged with paying a child to testify falsely that Borough Park rabbi, Baruch Lebovits, had sexually abused him. Kellner is also charged with attempting to extort $400,000 from the Lebovits family to prevent other children from accusing the rabbi and to stop those who had come forward from pursuing their cases.

The indictment charges that, in 2008 Kellner paid a second child $10,000 to falsely claim Lebovits also abused him. Both children testified before a Kings County Grand Jury which ultimately charged Lebovits with both misdemeanor and felony sex abuse counts, according to the indictment against Kellner. Kellner next sent emissaries to the Lebovits family demanding $400,000, in exchange for which, Kellner would prevent those witnesses from testifying at trial and prevent a third ''victim'' from coming forward, according to the indictment. The Lebovits family did not comply with the demand, and in November 2008, a third ''victim'' did come forward, the indictment charges. Kellner later threatened to bring a fourth ''victim'' to testify, according to the indictment.

In March 2010 Lebovits was convicted of eight counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, with the testimony of the third witness. The second witness did not testify at the trial. Lebovits was sentenced to 10-and-two-thirds to 32 years in prison.

Kellner is charged with Five Counts of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Two Counts of Perjury in the First Degree, One Count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree and Two Counts of Criminal Solicitation in the Fourth Degree. If convicted, he faces up to 21 years in prison.

According to NBC News Defense lawyers for Lebovits were expected in court Wednesday to try and argue their client should be released.

New York - Brooklyn Rabbi Released on Bail After Extortion Scheme Uncovered

New York - In a major development, VIN News has confirmed that a Brooklyn rabbi who was sentenced to a 10 ½ to 32 year prison term for child molestation a year ago was released on $250,000 bail pending appeal and remain under house arrest, after it was determined that witnesses who had testified against him had been paid to falsely claim that they had been molested by 60 year old Rabbi Boruch Lebovits.

Lebovits was represented on appeal by high-power attorney Alan Dershowitz and his original defense lawyer Arthur Aidala.

As was reported earlier on VIN News, Samuel Kellner, 49, was arraigned today in Brooklyn Supreme Court for 10 counts of grand larceny, perjury and conspiracy that can land him behind bars for up to 21 years.

According to the NY Daily News, He pleaded not guilty and his lawyer Israel Fried described him as an advocate of sexual-abuse victims, which made him a lightening rod in the ultra-orthodox neighborhood.

"It seems reasonable that people in the community who are aware of him bringing people to justice will have a vendetta against my client," he said.

Kellner allegedly attempted to extort $400,000 from Lebovitz after learning in 2008 that a young man had brought charges of sexual abuse against Rabbi Lebovits.

When the family refused to pay, Kellner allegedly paid off witnesses to lie and claim that Lebovits had abused them as well, resulting in greater charges being brought against him.

Lebovits is expected to use these new developments to challenge his original conviction.

More details soon

DA Hynes announces charges against Samuel Keller

New York - Brooklyn Rabbi Released on Bail After Extortion Scheme Uncovered

New York - In a major development, VIN News has confirmed that a Brooklyn rabbi who was sentenced to a 10 ½ to 32 year prison term for child molestation a year ago was released on $250,000 bail pending appeal and will remain under house arrest, after it was determined that witnesses who had testified against him had been paid to falsely claim that they had been molested by 60 year old Rabbi Boruch Lebovits.

Lebovits was represented on appeal by high-power attorney Alan Dershowitz and his original defense lawyer Arthur Aidala.

As was reported earlier on VIN News, Samuel Kellner, 49, was arraigned today in Brooklyn Supreme Court for 10 counts of grand larceny, perjury and conspiracy that can land him behind bars for up to 21 years.

According to the NY Daily News, Kellner pleaded not guilty and his lawyer Israel Fried described him as an advocate of sexual-abuse victims, which made him a lightening rod in the ultra-orthodox neighborhood.

"It seems reasonable that people in the community who are aware of him bringing people to justice will have a vendetta against my client," he said.

Kellner allegedly attempted to extort $400,000 from Lebovitz after learning in 2008 that a young man had brought charges of sexual abuse against Rabbi Lebovits.

When the family refused to pay, Kellner allegedly paid off witnesses to lie and claim that Lebovits had abused them as well, resulting in greater charges being brought against him.

An investigation into Lebovits - a wealthy man who owned a travel agency - began when Kellner's close relative accused the rabbi of inappropriate touching, sources said.

Lebovits was hit with a misdemeanor, but when a second accuser - the one paid by Kellner - came forward, the rabbi was slapped with felony counts, prosecutors said.

The charges relating to Kellner's relative were eventually dismissed, and the second accuser later refused to testify at trial.

Meanwhile, representatives for Kellner told the Lebovits family to pay up or another victim would come forward, prosecutors said.

When the family refused, a third accuser stepped forward and gave testimony in March 2010 that led to Lebovits' conviction.

A source told the Daily News that third accuser was also tainted, having been offered $50,000 to take the stand.

"We believe everything was premeditated all along. All they wanted was the money," said a relative of Lebovits who asked not to be named. "The DA has him on recordings."

Lebovits is expected to use these new developments to challenge his original conviction.

Man Accused Of Paying False Witness $10K In Testify In Rabbi Abuse Case

April 13, 2011 2:26 PM

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – Authorities have charged 49-year-old Samuel Kellner with paying a fraudulent witness $10,000 to falsely testify that a Brooklyn rabbi had sexually abused him as a child.

Rabbi Baruch Lebovits was sentenced to up to 32 years in prison last year.

1010 WINS' Stan Brooks with more details on the accusations

District Attorney Charles J. Hynes said a new indictment charges Kellner with perjury in addition to extortion and conspiracy. He was not charged with bribery or witness tampering.

Hynes said Kellner found out in 2008 that the rabbi had been accused of molesting a child, then got the second child to make similar claims.

Kellner also is accused of demanding $400,000 from the rabbi's family while saying he could have other children make similar allegations against him.

''We allege that Kellner sent emissaries to Lebovits' family telling them that he controlled the witnesses against Baruch Lebovits,'' Hynes said, ''and that in return for $400,000, he would ensure that the witnesses would not testify at trial.''

Hynes stated that while child abuse cases must be ''prosecuted vigorously,'' authorities should be mindful and ''very, very careful about false complaints.''

*-- /Date of publication **-- Headline *

Man Charged with Paying Child to Give False Testimony

*-- /Headline **-- Author Byline * http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/137357/man-charged-with-paying-child-to-give-false-testimony

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes says Samuel Kellner, 49, paid a young boy $10,000 to testify that Rabbi Baruch Lebovits sexually abused him.

Kellner also reportedly tried to solicit $400,000 from the rabbi's family, saying he could prevent the children from testifying.

The district attorney says the rabbi is applying for bail pending an appeal, but he says Kellner's indictment should not change his sentence.

Lebovits is serving up to 32 years in prison for sexual assault.

"The question is whether or not the appellate division under all of the circumstances of this case will admit Lebovits to bail," said Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes. "We're opposing it, because we see no connection. Its clear that number two was falsifying, but we have no reason to believe that number three falsified his testimony."

Hynes added the bribed witness did not testify, and it was the testimony of a third child that led to the rabbi's conviction.

Kellner is charged with perjury, attempted grand larceny, conspiracy and criminal solicitation.

If convicted, he faces up to 21 years in prison.

Victim Allegedly Was Paid to Testify

• By TAMER EL-GHOBASHY

תוקן על ידי 123news ב- 14/04/2011 03:16:44

Brooklyn man testifies Rabbi Baruch Lebovitz molested him as teenager
BY Scott Shifrel
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Originally Published:Wednesday, March 3rd 2010, 3:31 PM
Updated: Wednesday, March 3rd 2010, 3:31 PM



In a halting voice, a 22-year-old man on Wednesday accused a Brooklyn rabbi of repeatedly molesting him when he was a teenager.

Supporters of Rabbi Baruch Lebovits packed the courtroom as the accuser took the witness stand to describe a series of assaults in a car between 2004 and 2005.

"Did he say anything?" Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory asked.

"He said something but I don't remember," murmured the young man, dressed in jeans, white shirt, tie and a yarmulke on shoulder-length black scraggly hair.

He spoke so softly and with such hesitation that Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Patricia DiMango repeatedly asked him to speak up.

"How did you feel?" Gregory asked of the alleged attacks.

"Very uncomfortable and confused," he said.

He sat less than 20 feet from Lebovits, 59, who was surrounded by supporters.

The rabbi, who owns a Borough Park travel agency, faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of a criminal sexual act in the second-degree.

He's also awaiting trial on charges of molesting two others.

The man accusing him yesterday admitted he was in rehab for heroin and crack addiction that began after the incidents.

"It's a shame to talk about it and I have low self-esteem," he said, explaining to jurors why he didn't lodge charges until he'd left the Hasidic community.

Lebovits' lawyer hammered him in opening statements, calling him a con man with a history of drugs, crime and missed court dates.

"You're going to be sold a bill of goods," lawyer Arthur Aidala said, claiming the accuser intends to sue his client. "This is a con man that's going to take the stand.

"There's no video,
there's no eyewitness,
no DNA, there's no fingerprints...
That evidence doesn't exist
because all these acts Miss Gregory described didn't happen."

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Brooklyn Rabbi Baruch Lebovits convicted in sex assault on boy, faces decades behind bars
BY Scott Shifrel
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, March 9th 2010, 4:00 AM

A Brooklyn rabbi faces decades behind bars - and sentencing on the eve of Passover - after a jury quickly convicted him of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

Rabbi Baruch Lebovits showed no reaction as Brooklyn Supreme Court jurors found him guilty on eight of 10 counts after three hours of deliberations.

"Thank God, justice is served," the victim's father said in the packed courtroom
as Lebovits family members wiped tears from their eyes.

"This makes a statement to the Jewish community," said Beth Kaplan of the group Sacred Lives, one of several advocates who sat through the week-long trial.

"There is denial. The majority of the Orthodox community doesn't believe this can happen. Here we see it can happen."

There was no physical evidence,
and the accuser was a recovering drug addict and a thief -
points defense lawyer Arthur Aidala hammered home.

He claimed the victim was trying to shake down Lebovits, who owned a Borough Park travel agency - and said a detective withheld a document showing the victim had talked about being paid off.

Lebovits, who still faces charges he molested two other minors, could get up to four years on each count.
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Rabbi Baruch Lebovits is sentenced to 10 2/3 to 32 years in prison for molesting teen
BY Scott Shifrel
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Originally Published:Monday, April 12th 2010, 2:09 PM
Updated: Monday, April 12th 2010, 2:40 PM

A Brooklyn rabbi convicted of molesting a teenage boy was sentenced to the Monday to the maximum - 10-2/3 to 32 years in prison.

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Patricia DiMango gave Rabbi Baruch Lebovits consecutive sentences for eight sexual abuse counts.

"It is important for the courts to send a clear message that abusing and harming children will not be tolerated," she told a courtroom packed with Lebovits' supporters and victim advocates.

Asked whether he wanted to address the court, Lebovits said: "No thanks."

His lawyer called Lobovits a "saint" and asked the judge to set aside the verdict,
 claiming the allegations were just a shakedown for cash.

The lawyer, Arthur Aidala, he charged that the teen's family didn't press charges
until the rabbi's son, in Israel, got rich.

"They came forward when his son Chaim hit the lottery and became a multimillionaire," Aidala said.

A jury found Lebovits guilty 
The victim, who is now 22, said he was relieved at the outcome of the case.

"My experience here has given me hope and optimism I thought was lost forever," he said in court.

"Every day Baruch Lebovits is in prison is a day that kids in our community are safe from him."

Several advocates said the harsh sentence will send a message to the Orthodox Jewish community where, they say, frank discussion of abuse is rare.

"It's not going to change overnight," said Beth Kaplan, director of Sacred Lives. "The sense of denial in this community is starting to stop.

"The Jewish community at large needs to hear the message, accept the message and understand the message: this happens all the time and it needs to stop happening."
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