Dudovitz has struggled with “fighting homosexual urges — not sexual predator urges,” his attorney told the court, echoing – perhaps unknowingly – the position of the late Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who allegedly attributed cases of child sex abuse to latent homosexual tendencies and told at least some Chabad rabbis not to report child sex abusers to police.
Above: Rabbi Aryeh Leib “Larry” Dudovitz
Chabad Rabbi Aryeh Leib “Larry” Dudovitz Gets 8 Years For Child Sex Assault
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Convicted Chabad child molester Rabbi Aryeh Leib “Larry” Dudovitz told a Chicago judge today that his emotional pain was so debilitating and so great, his relationship with his family has deteriorated and he cannot keep a full-time job, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
“I am almost constantly afraid, feel alone, scared, angry, anxious, feeling useless, unwanted and unworthy of love,” Dudovitz continued. “I carry shame, which makes loving another very difficult. I feel voiceless, not heard, unworthy of speaking, being heard or spoken to,” Dudovitz said, noting that he hopes his victim recovers from the trauma Dudovitz caused him.
Dudovitz’s lawyer, Richard Kling, claimed his client was really gay and wasn’t a child molester at heart.
Dudovitz has struggled with “fighting homosexual urges — not sexual predator urges,” Kling told the court echoing, perhaps unknowingly, the position of the late Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who allegedly attributed cases of child sex abuse to latent homosexual tendencies and told at least some Chabad rabbis not to report child sex abusers to police.
Schneerson also allegedly encouraged his followers not to report crimes committed by Jews to police because he believed Jews should almost never be imprisoned for their crimes.
Assistant State’s Attorney Tracy Senica reportedly insisted Dudovitz was “a sexual predator of the worst kind” because he was seen as a “spiritual leader and moral compass.”
Dudovitz attacked the victim in 2006 when the victim was only 15-years-old. The sexual assault took place at the boy’s family home in West Rogers Park during the holiday of Sukkot.
As others in the family sukkah that night, the minor boy had been drinking alcohol – a common behavior among Chabad hasidim.
After the boy’s father and siblings went to sleep, Dudovitz gave the boy even more vodka shots.
Dudovitz told the boy he was leaving and the boy went inside his family’s home and went to sleep in his basement bedroom.
Sometime later, the boy woke and found Dudovitz performing a sex act on him.
Almost three years ago the boy, then in his early 20s, went to police and reported the crime. Dudovitz was arrested in 2013 and charged with criminal sexual assault.
Dudovitz was convicted in November 2015. Today, Judge Evelyn Clay sentenced Dudovitz to eight years in state prison.
The victim, who is now 24, said depression caused by the sexual assault and its aftermath made it impossible for him to complete high school. He self-medicated with drugs and alcohol and has twice been in rehab.
“I never thought I would have a future. I always thought that I would be looked on as someone less than, or worse than the next. With this sentencing, I can clearly put my hopes and dreams in front of me and know that there is hope in my present life and future to come,” the victim said today.
Dudovitz’s wife reportedly broke down in sobs outside the courtroom after her husband’s sentence was read.
Dudovitz is affiliated with the overtly messianist wing of the Chabad Movement.
Related Posts:
Chicago Chabad Rabbi Arrested For Alleged Child Sex Abuse.
Chabad Allegedly Blocked Police Investigation Into Accused Chicago Pedophile.
Chabad Rabbi Convicted Of Aggravated Criminal Sex Assault Against 15-Year-Old-Boy.