Rabbi Charged with Perjury Allegedly Paid Child $10K to Testify in Another Rabbi's Child-Molest Case
Developing: A rabbi’s conviction and up to 32-year prison sentence for child molestation should stand, New York prosecutors say, despite the fact that another rabbi has been charged with perjury and other crimes for allegedly paying a child $10,000 to testify against him.
The bizarre situation made headlines today as word began circulating that Rabbi Samuel Kellner of Brooklyn was arrested last night and has been charged with perjury, attempted grand larceny and criminal solicitation, according to the New York Post and NBC New York.
Kellner is also accused of arranging for the child’s testimony in connection with an alleged effort to get the defendant rabbi’s family to ante up $400,000.
Lawyers for Rabbi Baruch Lebovits, who was convicted a year ago, are now calling for his release.
A lawyer for Kellner declined to comment, according to NBC New York.
A news conference by the Brooklyn District Attorney today is expected to provide further details.
