Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Orthodox Jewish Cantor Faces Months In Jail After Pleading Guilty To Sexually Abusing Teen
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 17, 2014
Modified May 17, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 17, 2014
Modified May 17, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
An ultra-Orthodox cantor has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a teenage boy—and he's only facing months in jail as a result. Baruch Lebovits, 62, was previously convicted of eight counts of molestation, but that case was overturned in 2012 on a technicality. And this week, Lebovits fully admitted that he engaged in oral sex with a teenage boy on eight different occasions in 2004 and 2005.
Lebovits was sentenced to 10 ½ to 32 years in prison in 2010 for raping children in Borough Park. At the time, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Patricia DiMango showed no mercy, telling the court, "It is important for the courts to send a clear message that abusing and harming children will not be tolerated."
But his conviction was reversed on a series of technicalities. According to the Times, an appeal's court decided Lebovits "had been deprived of a fair trial because prosecutors took too long to turn over a detective’s notes about a witness." The case became emblematic of problems under former Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes in prosecuting sexual abuse cases among ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Current DA Ken Thompson wrote a letter to Hynes asking that he stop working on the case last fall, fearing that Hynes would offer Lebovits a plea deal. The victim didn't want to testify again though, and prosecutors ended up offering Lebovits four to 12 years; but Justice Mark Dwyer lowered that to a two-year sentence, "citing those given to others who had pleaded to similar crimes."
So under his current plea deal, Lebovits will receive credit for the 13 months he has already served under the previous conviction (on the same charges). As a result, he'll only serve a few months in jail, at most.
Tagged
baruch lebovits
brooklyn
cantor
orthodox jewish
sexual abuse
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
GOP candidates in NY face a changed landscape on immigration
The 'migrant crisis' has changed markedly since the voters went to the polls two years ago.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 28, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
Mamdani plans redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue after nurse killed in hit-and-run
Sunset Park residents and street safety advocates have called on city officials to make the avenue safer for years.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Mamdani plans redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue after nurse killed in hit-and-run
Sunset Park residents and street safety advocates have called on city officials to make the avenue safer for years.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
NJ Gov. Sherrill: Election is secure, noncitizens taken off voter rolls
By
Michael Sol Warren
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
By
Samantha Max
Former NYC buildings boss helped reopen mayor's favored restaurant despite health violations
By
David Brand
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .