A 43-year-old haredi teacher from Ashdod who allegedly sexually abused at least ten students over a 7-year period at an unnamed haredi school in the center of Israel was indicted Friday.
Haredi Teacher Indicted For Serial Child Sex Abuse
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
A 43-year-old haredi teacher from Ashdod allegedly sexually abused at least ten students over a 7-year period at an unnamed haredi school in the center of Israel, AshdodNet reported.
The teacher reportedly admitted to some of the abuse, “repented” and was fired by the school.
He was indicted Friday.
That indictment reportedly describes the teacher’s grooming process.
First he sat the children on his lap individually and fondled them through their clothes. After some time, he would put his hand into the child’s pants and fondle their genitals. Eventually, he also forced them to perform the indecent acts on him. And then he gave the children candy.
The father of one of the boys reportedly heard his talking about the abuse and called the Talmud Torah’s director, who fired the teacher. When the school’s principal called the teacher, the teacher reportedly did not deny the crimes. Instead, he asked which parents were accusing him. The teacher confessed to abusing 2 or 3 children, but claimed what he did was just "play,” and said he regretted it.
Prosecutors reportedly noted that the “vast majority of these haredi children did not understand the meaning of [the teacher’s] despicable actions [because they have no sex education or good touch, bad touch education and are often not taught words for their genitals] and during interrogation had difficulty describing things."
The teacher has no criminal record.
Nonetheless, the State Prosecutor's Office labeled him a serial sex offender.
"He took advantage of every opportunity to achieve his aim [of sexually abusing these children],” prosecutors said.
[Hat Tip: The Lion.]