The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday sentenced a 40-year-old man to
seven months in prison, following his conviction on four counts of indecently
assaulting a minor under 14.
According to the indictment, filed in
January 2010, Rabbi David Bruckner, a haredi children’s entertainer nicknamed
“David the Mime,” met the 12-year-old complainant in a Jerusalem synagogue in
2009, where he kissed him.
On another occasion, Bruckner took the boy
into a building next to the synagogue, where he indecently assaulted him. After
the abuse, Bruckner gave the boy NIS 20 and warned him not to tell anyone, the
indictment said.
In January 2010, the indictment said, the complainant
was at Bruckner’s home, when Bruckner “took off his shirt and vest, and took of
all the complainant’s clothes except his socks.”
Bruckner then indecently
assaulted the complainant, the indictment said. “You drive me crazy, I can’t be
without you,” the indictment said Bruckner told the child before giving him more
money.
Bruckner has denied the charges, including after his conviction,
and said he has been harassed by the haredi community because he is an
entertainer.
The 40-year-old has starred in hundreds of children’s shows
and video recordings – some of which he gave to the
complainant.
Following his indictment, Bruckner has been under house
arrest, and is allowed out only to attend prayers.
In sentencing
Bruckner, Judge Gad Ehrenberg said that he had taken into account the serious
nature of the offenses, especially given he had exploited his position as a
well-known entertainer in the haredi community.
Ehrenberg said Bruckner
violated the trust of a minor, who admired him because of his work.
“No
doubt, the offenses to which the complainant was subjected will cause emotional
scars for years to come,” the judge said.
As mitigating factors, the
judge noted Bruckner’s clean record, the fact that he has begun drug therapy to
reduce the danger he poses to children, and the fact that he has been held under
full house arrest since he was detained.
The court also handed down a
12-month suspended sentence and ordered Bruckner to pay the complainant NIS
7,500 compensation.
Ehrenberg agreed to stay the prison sentence for 45
days to allow Bruckner to appeal.
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