תוקן על ידי SatmarBum ב- 23/08/2011 10:26:10
תוקן על ידי הטוב_שמך ב- 24/01/2012 05:59:52
An 18-year-old New Square man who worked for the Hasidic Jewish community’s rabbinical leader is scheduled for trial next week on a charge of attempted murder stemming from accusations that he set fire to a fellow village resident who had defied the edicts of the community’s spiritual leader.
Shaul Spitzer waived his right to a pretrial hearing Wednesday in state Supreme Court. Justice William A. Kelly scheduled jury selection for Tuesday in his fourth-floor courtroom at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City.
Spitzer opted for trial because he faces five to 25 years in state prison if convicted of the top charge of attempted murder, the only offer made by Rockland County prosecutors in exchange for a guilty plea.
Spitzer and his lawyers can change their minds about going to trial, but Spitzer likely would face up to 15 years in prison from the justice if he pleads guilty.
Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said prosecutor Stephen Moore has made no special plea offer and that a sentence is at the justice’s discretion upon conviction.
Spitzer is accused of setting Aron Rottenberg on fire after trying to burn down the family’s Truman Avenue house at 4:15 a.m. May 22, tossing a homemade incendiary device onto the back porch of the house, Ramapo police investigators said.
Because of months of threats — including telephone calls days earlier — and vandalism, Rottenberg’s son had been monitoring surveillance cameras installed on the house.
The elder Rottenberg then confronted the masked man and during a struggle another incendiary device carried by the man detonated, burning Rottenberg and Spitzer. Spitzer ran off and a resident treated him for his burns.
Rottenberg, 44, a plumber, suffered third-degree burns across 50 percent of his body, leading to skin-graft surgeries and months of hospitalization.
Spitzer, who lived with Grand Rebbe David Twersky and did butler work for him, suffered third-degree burns to his arms and after several weeks of hospitalization returned to
school in the community
Rottenberg and several other village residents were targets of street protests and vandalism for not praying in the grand rebbe’s synagogue, less than 100 yards from Rottenberg’s house on Truman Avenue.
There is one synagogue in New Square, and the grand rebbe wants all his followers to pray with him. Weeks after the attack, Twersky condemned the violence and offered prayers for both men to recover.
Rottenberg led a weekly Sabbath service at the Friedwald Center rehabilitation facility, about a mile from the center of the Ramapo village.
One other family moved out of the village following the protests they and Rottenberg said were orchestrated by minions who enforced the grand rebbe’s edicts.
Rottenberg has filed a civil lawsuit against Twersky and Spitzer. The grand rebbe’s followers were supposedly raising money for a settlement offer, but Rottenberg is ready to testify at the criminal trial, his son-in-law Moshe Elbaum said Wednesday.
“We’re ready to go, and we’re happy that it’s finally starting,” Elbaum said. “Hopefully they will finally learn their lesson that they are not above the law.”
Following a Ramapo police investigation into the May incident, a Rockland grand jury indicted Spitzer in June on charges of second-degree attempted murder, second-degree attempted arson and two counts of first-degree assault, all felonies.
On Wednesday morning, defense lawyer Kenneth Gribetz told Kelly that Spitzer waived his right to a hearing on the admissibility of statements he gave to police.
Spitzer’s defense lawyers are not challenging that the teen was at Rottenberg’s house during the early morning hours. Gribetz has contended that Spitzer did not intend to harm Rottenberg or to set his house on fire.
The night of the confrontation coincided with the Lag BaOmer festival, when religious Jews have bonfires marking the anniversary of the death of a leading rabbi and a revolt against the Roman Empire. A community group circulated a letter in August claiming Spitzer just wanted to make mischief that morning.
Gribetz and co-defense lawyer Paul Shechtman said the defense case will develop during the trial.
“The defense will come from the lips of the witnesses,” Gribetz said after Wednesday’s court appearance. “We don’t want to make any other statements.”
Spitzer also faces a charge of second-degree criminal contempt, a misdemeanor, in New Square Village Court. On Oct. 26, a photograph taken by a village resident surfaced, showing Spitzer in front of Rottenberg’s Truman Avenue home about 3:15 p.m. Oct. 4. That case is scheduled for this month
תוקן על ידי SatmarBum ב- 09/02/2012 11:52:28
Shaul Spitzer set Aron Rottenberg alight outside the family home
Victim suffered third-degree burns to more than 50 per cent of his body and was in hospital for over a month
Pleaded guilty and faces up to 10 years imprisonment
By JILL REILLY
Last updated at 12:06 PM on 8th February 2012
Shaul Spitzer, 18, of New Square, New York, had been accused of severely burning Aron Rottenberg, 43, with a firebomb outside Mr Rottenberg's home in New Square, an insular Hasidic village of 7,000.
He pleaded guilty to assault in a New York court and faces up to 10 years in prison, although Judge William Kelly said he would likely receive a 5-year sentence.
Shaul Spitzer, 18, of New Square, New York, had been accused of severely burning neighbor Aron Rottenberg, 43, with a firebomb outside Rottenberg's home in New Square
Mr Rottenberg alleged that Twersky was angered because Rottenberg had stopped praying at his synagogue, disobeying a prayer order by the Grand Rebbe of the Hasidic enclave about 35 miles north of New York City
Spitzer, who worked for Grand Rebbe David Twersky, admitted that he used a heavy duty propane lighter to set Rottenberg on fire in May 2011.
It happened after Mr Rottenberg confronted Spitzer when he thew a bag of burning shirts soaked in petrol on the porch of his home.
Mr Rottenberg suffered third-degree burns to more than 50 per cent of his body and prosecutor Stephen Moore said he spent more than a month in the hospital recovering.
Painful recovery: Aron Rottenberg suffered third-degree burns to more than 50 per cent of his body and prosecutor Stephen Moore said he spent more than a month in the hospital recovering
Crime scene: Court documents said Rottenberg's family had received several threats and had their property vandalised for not praying in the community's main synagogue
Spitzer also had burns on his hands and arms.
'We just both burst into flames,' Mr Rottenberg said.
The family was sleeping inside, court documents said.
Mr Rottenberg claimed in a lawsuit that Spitzer was acting at the direction of the village's Chief Rabbi, David Twersky.
He alleged that rabbi Twersky was angered because Mr Rottenberg had stopped praying at his synagogue.
The rabbi denied involvement, criticised the attack and was not charged.
Spitzer's lawyers also said the rabbi was uninvolved their client acted alone.
Court documents said Mr Rottenberg's family had received several threats and had their property vandalised for not praying in the community's main synagogue.
Spitzer, who will be sentenced in April, entered his plea on the day jury selection was set to begin in the case said defence attorney Deborah Lowenberg.
Under the plea deal, charges of attempted murder and arson were dismissed.
Mr Rottenberg was in court and told the judge he consented to the plea deal.
Ms Lowenberg said sect leaders didn't pressure Spitzer to accept the plea bargain to avoid a trial.
'Mr. Spitzer took counsel only from the defense team,' she said.
'We understood the evidence was very strong against our client and explained to him that there was a significant risk of facing 25 years.
'This way, he has the peace of mind of knowing the sentence won't be more than 10 years,' she added.
'We hope to show the judge that a less severe sentence would be appropriate.'
Outside court, Spitzer's attorney Kenneth Gribetz said his client had been trying to cause mischief, not to kill anyone.
'This is a young boy who has no criminal intent,' he said.
'He's not a criminal ... He should be given a chance to get back on the right track.'
Rottenburg has a pending civil lawsuit against Spitzer and Rabbi Twersky stemming from the incident.
Gribetz said in court a settlement in the $2 million range was under discussion.
New Square is about 30 miles north of Manhattan.
Nearly all of its residents are members of the Skver Hasidic sect.
The sect and the village are named for the Ukrainian village of Skver, where its members were killed during the Holocaust.
-NEW SQUARE — A car belonging to Aron Rottenberg -- the dissident member of the Hasidic community targeted and seriously burned in a May arson attack -- was intentionally set ablaze Thursday night, law enforcement officials told The Journal News.
Hillcrest firefighters responded to Jefferson Avenue about 10:40 p.m. to find the rear of Rottenberg’s 2003 Mazda in flames, Ramapo Police Sgt. Blaine Howell said.
By the time police arrived moments later, the fire had been extinguished. No injuries were reported.
The Ramapo Police Department and the Rockland County sheriff’s arson unit are investigating the incident. Neither department offered much additional information early Friday morning.
Howell would not say who owned the car that was the center of the attack, but officials close to the investigation confirmed it to be Rottenberg’s.
The attack follows what many believed was the conclusion of difficult ordeal for the Rottenberg family.
On May 22, the Rottenberg home in New Square was attacked because Aron Rottenberg refused to pray in Grand Rabbi David Twersky’s Truman Avenue synagogue.
Rottenberg suffered third-degree burns to over 50 percent of his body as a result of the attack, burns that left him hospitalized for weeks.
Shaul Spitzer, who has admitted to throwing an incendiary device at Rottenberg, setting him on fire, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, a felony, on Feb. 7.
Spitzer’s plea came as part of an agreement that ended Rottenberg’s civil lawsuit. It is believed that another element of the agreement includes Rottenberg receiving about $2 in compensation from supporters of Spitzer and Grand Rabbi David Twersky.
Spitzer, 18 at the time of the attack, lived with Twersky, working as a type of butler.
Spitzer, still being held, is to be sentenced by state Supreme Court Justice William A. Kelly on April 17. He faces a maximum of 10 years in state prison. Kelly has already indicated that Spitzer will likely receive a sentence of at least five years in prison.
New Square, NY - A village dissident once set on fire for bucking rabbinical orders said his car was torched Thursday night by a drunken Purim reveler who was angry when he was denied more booze, according to Ramapo police.
Based on those circumstances, Aron Rottenberg doesn’t believe the arson fire to his car at 10:40 p.m. resulted from his previous problems with the New Square theocracy, police said.
“We’re looking to talk to that young man,” Ramapo Police Chief Peter Brower said.
Brower said Rottenberg told investigators that he “tried to counsel the young fellow against the dangers of drinking.”
“That led to some words along the line of ‘Don’t Tell me what to do’ and he left,” Brower said. “The next thing you know the car is ignited. Mr. Rottenberg stated there is no nexus between the incident last year and the incident last night.”
תוקן על ידי SatmarBum ב- 12/03/2012 10:28:02
תוקן על ידי SatmarBum ב- 15/04/2012 12:33:47
http://www.lohud.com/article/20120414/NEWS03/304140075/New-Square-arson-attack-Spitzer-faces-5-10-years-sentencing-Tuesday-supporters-seek-leniency
http://www.vosizneias.com/104574/2012/04/14/new-square-ny-supporters-of-arson-attacker-seek-leniency
Spitzer accompanied by his lawyer relatives as he was arraigned in Rockland County Court on charges of attempted murder, attempted arson and assault. June 24 2011New Square, NY - A follower of the New Square grand rebbe knows he’s going to state prison for severely burning a village dissident during an arson assault, but the number of years behind bars will be revealed by the judge during Tuesday’s sentencing at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City.
Shaul Spitzer, 18, faces five to 10 years for first-degree assault in the attack on Aron Rottenberg at 4:15 a.m. May 22 during an attempt to burn down the family’s home on Truman Avenue in New Square.
Spitzer’s lawyers optimistically hope for five years, allowing Spitzer to get out earlier with good behavior. He’s being represented by former Rockland County District Attorney Kenneth Gribetz and former prosecutor Deborah Wolikow Loewenberg of New City, as well as Paul Shectman of Manhattan.
“We’re appealing to the court and will be asking the court to render the minimum sentence of five years,” Gribetz said. “Five years is a hard sentence for anyone. But for a young man who has lived in New Square for his entire life, the sentence will be even tougher.”
Prosecutor Stephen Moore will call for the 10-year sentence agreed to when Spitzer pleaded guilty, District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said.
(04/16/12) NEW SQUARE - The victim of a New Square fire-bombing is now asking the judge for leniency for his attacker.
Shaul Spitzer is being sentenced tomorrow for last year's fiery attack on Aron Rottenberg.
Spitzer confronted Rottenberg over a religious dispute, angry about Rottenberg's decision not to worship at the main synagogue. Rottenberg suffered burns on over half his body after he and his house were set on fire.
In a letter to the judge, Rottenberg doesn't claim Spitzer is blameless, it just asks the judge to have compassion for him.
Spitzer pleaded guilty and faces up to 10 years in prison
Rockland County, NY - A New Square teen was sentenced today to 7 years in prison for a fiery religious dispute.
Shaul Spitzer pleaded guilty to throwing a fire bomb at the home of Aron Rottenberg, who was badly burned in the May 2011 attack. Spitzer was angry at Rottenberg for deciding not to worship at the main synagogue in New Square.
In a letter to the judge, Rottenberg asked the judge for leniency and compassion for his attacker.
White Plains, N.Y. - A teenager was sentenced today to seven years in prison for the firebomb attack that badly burned Aron Rottenberg during a dispute.
A defense attorney said the sentence was fair but worried about prison life for an 18-year-old who has “never seen TV, never been on the Internet, doesn’t know who Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter are.”
The teen had been charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to assault as potential jurors gathered for his trial in February.
The teen admitted that he attacked Aron Rottenberg, a plumber, outside Rottenberg’s home in May.
Rottenberg filed a lawsuit that the teen was acting on behalf of others and the lawsuit was settled for $2.3 million.
Rottenberg had asked Rockland County Court Judge William Kelly to be lenient with the teen, who was also burned, and the judge came down from the 10-year cap he had promised after the plea deal.
Defense attorney Kenneth Gribetz said the sentence was “fair and compassionate.” But he said he fears for the teen, who he said will be the rare inmate who has had “no exposure to the outside world.”
An 18-year-old New Square man who severely burned a village dissident during an arson attack got sentenced to seven years in state prison on Tuesday after apologizing for trying to burn Aron Rottenberg’s family out of the Hasidic Jewish village.
The attack on Rottenberg and others for refusing to pray in the village synagogue and other activities raised how the Hasidic Jewish theocracy in New Square controls the lives of residents and deals, harshly at times, with those who choose not to follow the grand rabbi’s dictates.
Rottenberg, a plumber still recovering from body burns across his chest from May’s attack, has blamed the grand rebbe, David Twersky, for inciting the violence against him, including Shaul Spitzer’s arson attack to his Truman Avenue house at 4 a.m. May 22.
On Tuesday, Rottenberg said he was satisfied with the state prison sentence given to Spitzer and he plans on moving his family out of New Square. The community agreed to buy his Truman Avenue house as part of a $2.3 million payout that ended a civil rights lawsuit against Spitzer and Twersky.
“I think that justice has been served,” Rottenberg said outside the courtroom at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City. “We’re pleased. We hope to meet again under different circumstances.”
Rottenberg, 44, who wears a glove on his injured right hand, had sat in the front row of the packed courtroom with his wife and children.
They listened without emotion as Spitzer apologized for trying to set Rottenberg’s house on fire and then setting off an incendiary device that set himself and Rottenberg on fire after Rottenberg wrestled with him.
More than 60 supporters of Spitzer, including his parents and family, attended and some prayed for him as state Supreme Court Justice William A. Kelly oversaw the sentencing.
Spitzer’s explanation for trying to burn down the Rottenberg home was to try and scare Rottenberg into moving from New Square. Rottenberg became a target of community protests and vandalism when he refused to pray in Twersky’s synagogue, becoming a symbol of defiance against Skver Hasidim leadership, especially among younger residents chaffing under the strict social rules.