Updated With Video: 3 Weberman Supporters Arrested In Courtroom

Two Three men, at least two of whom are supporters of Rabbi Nechemya Weberman, the accused haredi child rapist on trial now in Brooklyn, were just arrested for taking pictures in the courtroom. The two men who are Weberman supporters took pictures of the alleged victim while she was on the witness stand and emailed them. The third man may have been a supporter of the alleged victim who took a picture of Weberman.

Rabbi Nechemya Weberman

Oren Yaniv, the NY Daily News reporter who's live tweeting the Weberman trial reports that:

2 people are being held for taking a picture of the alleged victim while she was on the stand and emailing it out

 Pervaiz Shallwani of the Wall Street Journal, who is also tweeting the trial and who also reported the arrests, reports that:

Testimony has been stopped. All spectators have been cleared & been ordered by judge to check their phones.

Just before the incident that led to the arrest he reported that:

Accuser in #webermantrial has been grinding through 2nd day of cross-exam as defense attorneys continue to try and discredit her testimony.

Defense closes for the day with accuser in the #webermantrial. Girl is back tomorrow. Attorney focussed on past statements and credibility.

Update 3:02 pm CST – What appear to be supporters of Rabbi Nechemya Weberman are emailing the picture illegally taken in court today of the alleged victim and her husband along with wedding pictures of the couple.

This is a clear and deplorable attempt to intimidate the girl, who has been otherwise unshakable on the stand.

Here is the photo illegally taken in court today. I blocked out the faces of the girl and her husband:

Update 6:13 pm CST – Three men were actually arrested. Here's a photo and cellphone video of them:

 

[Hat Tip for the video and the phota: Devorah.]

Update 10:48 pm CST – DNAInfo reported late this afternoon (and the NY Times confirmed several hours later) that four men, not three, were arrested. DNAInfo's Murray Weiss described the incident this way:

…Court officers suddenly spotted men in the audience snapping pictures on their cellphones of her.

The officers privately alerted Supreme Court Judge John Ingram, who asked the jurors to leave the room and allowed the guards to ask everyone in court to hand over their cellphones and other electronic gadgets.

Images of the victim were found on phones of four Hasidic men, who were immediately arrested and charged with judicial contempt, a misdemeanor, sources said. It's illegal to take photos in a courtroom without permission.

The men — identified as Joseph Fried, Yona Weisman, Abraham Zupnick and Lemon Juice — face up to a year in jail if they are convicted.

“Court officers observed audience members taking pictures with cell phone,” according to a court report. “Some of them may already have been uploaded to the Internet.”…

Of course, the picture was definitely uploaded and emailed, because as I noted above, it was emailed to me along with wedding pictures of the girl and her husband.

It's still unclear who is and who is not a Weberman supporter among those arrested today.

Two or the three hasidim are, from what I'm hearing (and from the use of the picture they took), Weberman supporters who took the pics with the intent of intimidating the girl in the hope that news that pictures of her taken moments before were now widely circulated electronically by people who seek to damage her.

The intent also appears to have been to frighten other alleged victims of Weberman (of which there are allegedly many) so they don't bring charges against Weberman or file lawsuits against him.

Lemon Juice (he changed his name from Weingarten, I think) appears to be a supporter of the victim. His pictures of the girl on the stand testifying – if he really did take them –  may have been meant to a gift for her and her husband and as a memento for himself of someone courageous enough to stand up against the Satmar-CRC-Williamsburg intimidation machine and the alleged rapist it protects. (He may also have taken a picture of Weberman as he was forced to listen to the girl testifying against him.)

The base crime all four committed is the same, but the severity changes with the intent behind the actions and, of course, the use of the pictures taken and any other intimidation or witness tampering that may be linked to each man.

For example, if investigators find that  one or more of them emailed the pictures to accomplices who used those pictures as part of a conspiracy to intimidate witnesses, the photographers could be charged as part of that conspiracy. Or if one or more of the photographers emailed the pictures to the girl's email account or to the account of her mother or her close friend, the base charged could be upped, as well.

The girl is scheduled to take the stand again tomorrow.

Court officers suddenly spotted men in the audience snapping pictures on their cellphones of her.

The officers privately alerted Supreme Court Judge John Ingram, who asked the jurors to leave the room and allowed the guards to ask everyone in court to hand over their cellphones and other electronic gadgets.

Images of the victim were found on phones of four Hasidic men, who were immediately arrested and charged with judicial contempt, a misdemeanor, sources said. It's illegal to take photos in a courtroom without permission.

The men — identified as Joseph Fried, Yona Weisman, Abraham Zupnick and Lemon Juice — face up to a year in jail if they are convicted.

“Court officers observed audience members taking pictures with cell phone,” according to a court report. “Some of them may already have been uploaded to the Internet.”

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20121129/sunset-park/men-arrested-for-taking-photos-of-sex-assault-victim-on-stand-sources-say#ixzz2DfzKvef0

Court officers suddenly spotted men in the audience snapping pictures on their cellphones of her.

The officers privately alerted Supreme Court Judge John Ingram, who asked the jurors to leave the room and allowed the guards to ask everyone in court to hand over their cellphones and other electronic gadgets.

Images of the victim were found on phones of four Hasidic men, who were immediately arrested and charged with judicial contempt, a misdemeanor, sources said. It's illegal to take photos in a courtroom without permission.

The men — identified as Joseph Fried, Yona Weisman, Abraham Zupnick and Lemon Juice — face up to a year in jail if they are convicted.

“Court officers observed audience members taking pictures with cell phone,” according to a court report. “Some of them may already have been uploaded to the Internet.”

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20121129/sunset-park/men-arrested-for-taking-photos-of-sex-assault-victim-on-stand-sources-say#ixzz2DfzKvef0

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Comments

[HF]

Satmar twitter (can't figure that one out) feed posted the name of one of the losers arrested.

[David]

Who in their right mind would even think of attempting to take pictures in a court room?

Worse, who would think of taking pictures IN the court room, especially as the victim has already been intimidated by the defendant.

The judge must have been stunned (unless s/he were used to dealing with the frumma).

I guess this is a result of a lack education and lack of exposure to normal behavior and society.

[netflix]

these people are disgusting. Weberman guilty or not, this is another crime, threatening this girl with violence. That is what the pictures are really about.

[David]

Correction: My second para should read "Worse, who would think of taking pictures of the defendant, especially as the victim has already been intimidated by the defendant."

[devorah]

I am following the live tweets and it is unbelievable. Weberman's trial was full, so they went downstairs to Yegutkin's trial.

[S]

Who do they think they are - the media?

[David]

Correction AGAIN (not having a good day): I should have said.

My second para should read "Worse, who would think of taking pictures of the VICTIM, especially as she has already been intimidated by the defendant."

[meh]

aren't smart phones unkosher?

[Duh]

>Who do they think they are - the media?

The media does not and is not allowed to take pictures in a court room. You've never seen courtroom sketches before?

[jackson jnr]

just did google search on nechemya weberman on the internet. He lookds like a menuval, however the word is spelt. from the rubashkin case it appears apparent that in the u s a, not accepting a plea bargin can lead to a long stay in PRISON. the religious zeal which weberman and others of his ilk portray and their pumped up selfesteem will possibly lead to an unhappy result for him. my previous post on raising money for his defence was ment as satyre, as one look at the huge sums raised for the lewin lawyers in sholom R trial. that money shoud have gone towards social assistance for needy jews in your communitioes. shame on a lot of you pumped and self righteous people.

[jackson jnr]

putting weberman aside for just a few moments remember this day nov 29th . 1947 israel RISES from the ashes.....ww 2. to day 29th nov 2012 CIVILIZATION is at a cross road of huge significance, HAMAS gets a palestinian regcognition but stae up front ISRAEL IS TO NOT exist as an entity ; 1947 granted two states. israel and arab. This is the time to start praying diligently for your/our entire people.

[Korben Dallas]

We're going to have to fight these people eventually. They're sodomite impostors.

[Flatbusher]

This is terrible! They are angering the Judicial System! This will have incredible severe repercussions on all Orthodox Jews!

Where is their normalcy; their sense of respect for dina d'malchusah; their sense that they are in GOLUS and even though Williamsburgh is built up with Beautiful Real Estate, all this can Chas Vsholom evaporate!

Where is their leadership! Will in any of the sermons this Shabbos be a mention of this terrible Chilul Hashem... (They will be arrested prob. shortly... more fuel on the fire....)

Also jury most likely saw all this and they are not stupid. If any one juror had any doubts.. its all gone...

[dh]

RICO RICO RICO

[jancsibacsi]

THeese satmerers are the cancer among the jews, they are a diseased part of the jewish body that needs to be cut out.

[Wigmore]

The media does not and is not allowed to take pictures in a court room. You've never seen courtroom sketches before?

Posted by: Duh | November 29, 2012 at 03:35 PM

Often useful to get the facts straight before posting, especially on this blog.

In the New York State Courts press coverage with photographs and videos may be allowed by judges and often is.

In the federal courts, photgraphs and videos are banned.

[Account Deleted]

What's even worse is there is a Bais Din Tzedek Umishpot on the first floor in a civil courthouse in Downtown Brooklyn. I was there so I took a picture just in case. If you google this bais din, it's all legit apparently.

[yo yo yo]

Yaakov Horowitz did the same thing to Weberman, but that's okay somehow!

Yaakov admits it himself on his twitter:
https://twitter.com/yakovhorowitz/status/274235733882044416

[Shmarya]

Yaakov Horowitz did the same thing to Weberman, but that's okay somehow!

Yaakov admits it himself on his twitter:
https://twitter.com/yakovhorowitz/status/274235733882044416

Posted by: yo yo yo | November 29, 2012 at 06:35 PM

First of all, Horowitz is a fraud.

Past that, there are three separate crimes here:

1. Taking unauthorized photos, or recording or filming without authorization in a court of law.

2. Witness intimidation.

3. Releasing the identity, photo, family info, etc., of a minor victim of sexual assault and related crimes.

Weberman's picture has been public for years and his identity and face are known, so #2 does not apply to him.

Neither does #3.

Number #1 is a crime against the court, not against the person.

On the other hand, the alleged did have a crime committed against her by the men who took those pictures, and the crime was repeated and worsened when the emailed the pictures to others, had them posted online, etc.

So your equivalency argument doesn't hold up.

[Shimmy]

Ironic that these Hasidic cellphone photographers are trying to duck away from being photographed themselves! No double standard there, huh.

As you read this, sitting in your heated home, consider that they're trembling in fear at Rikers right now, about to spend their first night at the Greybar Hotel.

Karma's a bitch!

[The Hedyot]

Additionally, Horowitz's photo was not taken during the court session. I don't think there's any legal issues with taking a photo in the court if no legal proceedings are going on (although they probably don't want it done anyway).

[lion]

did the da released any names or a press release

[Sid]

Will they get hard time for this crime?

[Monseymaidel]

obvious that Hynes is starting to feel the heat and finally, actually doing something.
Take a plea, Nechemya. Or take your chances.

[Monseymaidel]

emember, Nechemya, taking a chance didn't work out for SMR. consider yourself forewarned. You don't exactly make for a sympathetic defendant.

[ThwRealJoe]

@Monseymaidel I agree I am shocked that Satmer leadership hasn't forced him into that yet. Knowing that Satmer doesn't appreciate publicity I don't understand how this actually made it to trial.

[proud lubob]

hey Shamarya.......why block out the pic of the accuser?you have clear pics of weberman? Oh I get it,one is hareidi and one is not!!!!!

[David]

Did the Chassidim take off their hats in the court room as per the secular mark of good manners when indoors and especially in a setting such as a court?

[Shmarya]

hey Shamarya.......why block out the pic of the accuser?you have clear pics of weberman? Oh I get it,one is hareidi and one is not!!!!!

Posted by: proud lubob | November 29, 2012 at 11:16 PM

Please.

The girl is a minor – Weberman is an adult.

The girl is a victims of sexual abuse – Weberman is not.

By law, courts and the government have to shield the identities of minors and of victims of sexual abuse and rape,

Reporters, newspapers, magazines, and TV and radio news programs all redact the names and specific identifiers of these minors and victims.

All this is something you would know if you weren't a cretinous, poorly educated, hasidic sack of shit.

But that's what you are, another proud product of the Rebbe's highly inferior educational system that is very often devoid of meaningful secular studies. (In the "Rebbe's school," Oholei Torah, that would read "completely devoid," because the Rebbe personally banned secular studies there.

How truly pathetic.

[Lime Juice]

Lemon Juice sounds like someone who wasn't carrying an ID gave a fake name to the authorities, so that they shouldn't be able to locate him again.

[MO]

This is a relatively minor violation that will result in a warning and probably a $150 fine, considering the four aren't court regulars and never knew the rule against photos, not having been advised of it by anyone at the court.

Also it is important to note that at least one of the arrested for photos (Lemon Juice) is a supporter of the female accuser.

[dh]

Taking the photo is one thing. Publishing it is a separate crime.

[dd]

@shmarya,
the'rebbe' banned secular studies at Oholei
Torah , but he, himself got a good secular education . i believe he attended ' La Sorbonne ' ( the french university). that shows how dishonest he was .
anyway, the rebbe was not religious . he 'became' frum when he came to america and started 'his work'. he had no choice but pretended to be frum , he had to show the example to his followers .
his wife was definitely not religious at all, answering phone calls on shabbat .... even after both her and her husband were well settled into the secterian community , she did not cover her hair , not even in public . they were phonies .

[Shmarya]

but he, himself got a good secular education . i believe he attended ' La Sorbonne '

He did **NOT** attend the Sorbonne.

He took a few classes at the University of Berlin and studied at a technical school in Paris.

[Maskil]

"I once met him, I had to translate something from Greek to French," related Lax, who said that he had to go to the Sainte-Geneviève library in the vicinity of the Sorbonne to work on his translation. The library owns handwritten editions of the Jerusalem Talmud, original manuscripts by Maimonides and other Jewish texts.

"The Rebbe was sitting not far from me," said Lax. "He spent a lot time there on the research."

He used the library at Sorbonne, and probably audited some classes.

[Maskil]

Wait ... I knew it!

Shmarya you bumbling idiot, this is from your own post:

Chabad Discovers Rebbe's Sorbonne Registration Document – No Record Of Any Degrees Granted , No Record Of Any Tests Passed

The Rebbe was enrolled and did study at Sorbonne.