A New Square resident who the Rockland County DA says sexually abused a boy with increasing frequency for more than four years was indicted June 20 on a felony charge.
The victim was under 13 at the time. Moshe Menachem Taubenfeld is 55.
Acording to the International Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault, Taubenfeld is a rabbi and has 20 children.
The victim and his family told The Journal News that they revealed the abuse to the Orthodox community's religious authorities several years ago and were discouraged from going to police.
FailedMessiah.com reported that Taubenfeld's brother Hershel Taubenfeld pleaded guilty to forcibly touching a young boy in 2011. Both were teachers.
Watch the video report from News 12 about allegations of a hidden epidemic of sex abuse in New Square.
Here's the full text of the DA's statement:
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Moshe Menachem Taubenfeld (DOB 09/24/1958) has been indicted by the Rockland County Grand Jury on the charge of:
• Course of Sexual Conduct against a child in the Second Degree, a Class “D” felony
According to the criminal charges, Taubenfeld sexually abused a male victim on multiple occasions between September, 2001 and May 2006. The victim’s identity is fully known by the Office of the District Attorney.
The sexual contact allegedly took place at the defendant’s home starting on a monthly basis, and then progressed to a weekly and almost daily basis. At all times during the period of abuse, the victim was less than thirteen years of age.
District Attorney Zugibe said, “The victim was a young child when the defendant first began subjecting him to what would become a five-year nightmare of sexual abuse. His depraved actions changed the victim’s life forever by robbing him of his innocence. Such alleged conduct can not go unpunished.”
The defendant has been released pending a future court date.
Assistant District Attorney John McGowan is prosecuting the case.
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