Monsey Rabbi Accused Of Sexually Abusing Young Boy Released On Bail
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A Monsey rabbi is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a young boy over the course of a year.
Gabriel Bodenheimer, 71, faces sex abuse and criminal sexual act charges, prosecutors said.
Bodenheimer served as principal of Bais Mikroh, a boy's yeshiva in Monsey.
According to a news release from the Ramapo Police Department, they received a report in December 2013 from a 12-year-old boy who alleged that he had been sexually abused more than once by Bodenheim while he was an 8-year-old student at the school.
According to prosecutors, Bodenheimer abused the boy from 2009-2010 in his office at the school.
As CBS 2's Steve Langford reported, Bodenheimer pleaded not guilty and was released on bail, which was set at $25,000. He was seen exiting Rockland County Jail with a paper bag over his head, Langford reported.
The conditions of his release on bail include surrendering his passport and obeying an order of protection ordering him to stay away from his alleged victim, CBS 2 reported.
"We will fight these allegations because they're not true and we'll do that in a court of law," Defense Attorney Deborah Loewenberg said.
It is unclear whether he will still serve as principal at the school; an official inside the school would not comment, Langford reported.
Langford reported parents at the school showed little apparent interest in discussing the principal's arrest.
Ramapo police report they are concerned there may be other possible victims of Bodenheimer and urge anyone who may have been victimized to contact police.
If convicted, Bodenheimer faces up to 25 years in prison.
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