Rabbi Baruch Lebovits Sentenced To 10 2/3 To 32 Years

Haredi child sexual abuser gets maximum sentence in Brooklyn trial.

 

Vicki Polin of The Awareness Center was just informed that Rabbi Baruch Lebovits was sentenced to 30 years in state prison.

Frum Follies has the statement of the victim's father made in court today. FF says the actual sentence is 10 to 30 years.

The Daily News (Hat Tip: The Other DK) says 10 2/3 to 32 years:

Rabbi Baruch Lebovits is sentenced to 10 2/3 to 32 years in prison for molesting teen
BY SCOTT SHIFREL • NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

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."

A jury found him guilty of abusing the 16-year-old friend of a son, luring him into a car and performing sex acts on him.

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."

Here's the DA's press release (Hat Tip: Stealthmon.):

KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES J. HYNES ANNOUNCES A 32-YEAR SENTENCE FOR BOROUGH PARK RABBI CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY 

     Brooklyn, April 12, 2010 – Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes today announced the sentencing of Baruch Lebovits, to 10-and-two-thirds to 32 years in prison for sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy on eight occasions in 2004 and 2005. 

      On March 8, Lebovits was convicted of eight counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class-E Felony. Today he was sentenced to the maximum sentence on each count, one-and-a-third to four years, to run consecutively, for a total of 10-and-two-thirds to 32 years.

      The victim knew Lebovits as a rabbi and prominent businessman in the Borough Park community, where they both lived. 

      Lebovits is also charged in two other cases of sexual assaults on minors. Those cases are pending. 

      The case was prosecuted by Miss Gregory, First Deputy Bureau Chief in the Sex Crimes Bureau. Rhonnie Jaus is Chief of the Sex Crimes Bureau.