Alleged Jerusalem serial child molester charged

Suspect confesses he abused children around his current apartment and in another neighborhood in Jerusalem; police find photos in apartment.

By MELANIE LIDMAN
A 43-year-old Jerusalem man was indicted by the Jerusalem District Court Wednesday morning on two counts of sodomy and other indecent acts with young children.
Binyamin Schatz, who lived alone on Hanatziv Street in a haredi neighborhood of the capital, confessed to police that he had abused children around his current apartment and in another neighborhood in Jerusalem where he used to live. He said when his neighbors found out that he was a serial child molester, they forced him to move to another area of the city or they would report him to the police.
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Schatz was arrested a few days ago by police investigators after a complaint was filed by a mother whose five-year-old son had been asking to shower many times a day. The mother found signs of abuse on her son’s body.
A police search of Schatz’s apartment revealed an album full of dozens of photos of children taken near his house. During the investigation, Schatz admitted to abusing other children.
He would reportedly lure children from the area into his apartment with candy.
After his arrest, other parents came to the police station and reported more instances of abuse and sodomy with their children.
In court on Wednesday, however, Schatz proclaimed his innocence and said he “would never do such things.”
He will remain in custody until his next hearing.