Case of Stephen Colmer
(AKA: Dovid Cohen, Steven Colmer, Steve Colmber)
Brooklyn, NY
Passaic, NJ
Jerusalem, Israel
If you know of a child who was sexually victimized by Stephen Colmer or anyone one else in Brooklyn, please contact: CAMBA: Rape Crisis Services. All services are free and confidential
Phone: (718) 282-5575 24 Hour Hotline: (800) 310-2449
Indicted on charges of child sexual abuse. Stephen Colmer attempted to escape facing criminal charges in Brooklyn by moving to Israel. Colmer was arrested in Israel on June 14, 2007, on a provisional arrest warrant. He is currently in custody awaiting extradition back to New York.
On Sunday, November 11, 2007 the Jerusalem District Court decided to extradite Steven Colmer.
The allegations being made include an event in which Stephen Colmer had a group of children ages seven - ten in his home over the shabbat (sabbath). The reports state that he performed oral sex on several of the children.
On June 23, 2006, family members of the children went to Rabbi Rosenbloom and asked him if they should go to the police. Rabbi Yosef Rosenbloom allegedly said they should not tell anyone about the offenses.
The Awareness Center was told that Rabbi Laser Ginsberg
was aware of the allegations made against Colmer, yet allowed him to enter
into his synagogue unescorted -- endangering the safety of other children.
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2006
2007
Israel Nabs Brooklyn Sexual Predator (06/15/2007)
Israel to extradite to US man accused of molesting two American minors (11/11/2007)
Israel OKs extradition of Brooklyn pedophile suspect (11/12/2007)
2008
Also see:
Mental Health Professionals Experienced With Jewish Survivors of Sexual Trauma
Parenting Issues of Sexually Abused Children in Jewish Communities
When A Family Member Molests: Reality, Conflict, and The Need For Support
Unorthodox Jew Blogger - June 24, 2006
Stefan Comer a Shabbos Group in his home for children ages 7-10. He molested and performed oral sex on the children.
Last night the families went to Rabbi Rosenbloom and asked him if they should go to the police. Rabbi Rosenbloom said they should not tell people about it. Rabbi Ginsberg lets him Daven (pray) in his Shul (synagogue). R Ginsberg knows about it. R abbi Ginsberg why does this man need to daven in a Shul? Shame on the families that hesitated and did not go straight to the police. Shame on you R abbi Rosenbloom who said that the person who has the Capital Hotel in Lakewood could be killed, yet you protect a child rapist. Shame on you Rabbi Rosenbloom shame on , shame on you.
Unorthodox Jew Blogger - July 28, 2006
Colmer is still around!!
He had access to many children and it is 100% confirmed that he fondled them, and had oral sex with some of them.
The parents were advised by Rabbi Leizer Ginzberg to leave it alone!! HELP US FROM IGNORANT RABBIS WHO OVERSTEP THEIR ROLE AS RABBIS!
BTW Rabbi rosenblum said not to press charges now because of the victoms exposure.
Rav Shmuel Kaminetzky said the same thing.
FIND STEPHEN COLMER AND HARASS HIM!! HE IS A PREDATOR AND IS SUSPECT FOR THE WORST SEXUAL AND EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION.
HE CONVINCED PEOPLE INTO LETTING HIM DRIVE THEIR KIDS PLACES, AND EVEN GOT THE KEYS TO SOME OF HIS VICTOMS HOUSES.
HE IS SERIOUSLY SICK, AND MUST BE SCARED TO DEATH!!
WE BELIEE HE IS IN LAKEWOOD AREA, OR OCEAN COUNTY.
Israel Nabs Brooklyn Sexual
Predator
New York Post - June 15, 2007
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06152007/news/regionalnews/israel_nabs_bklyn_sex_predator_regionalnews_philip_messing.htm
Brooklyn, NY - A suspect of preying on as many as a dozen young boys in Brooklyn, NY was arrested in Israel following his indictment on charges he abused two 13-year-olds.
Stefan Colmer, 30, a computer technician and salesman, was picked up by Israeli police in Jerusalem at the request of the U.S. Justice and State departments.
Colmer was indicted by a Brooklyn grand jury for allegedly abusing boys. He was charged with eight counts of committing a criminal act and faces up to seven years in prison. "We are looking to have him extradited," said Sandy Silverstein, a spokesman for Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes.
The investigation began last fall following rumors that Colmer had lured boys at the Mirrer Yeshiva to his nearby home.
Israel to extradite to US man accused of molesting two
American minors
Jerusalem Post - November 11, 2007
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1192380789016&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Israel will extradite Steven Colmer, who is accused of molesting two American minors, to the United States, the Jerusalem District Court decided Sunday.
_______
Note From The Awareness Center: What will it take for Israel to also extradite both Rabbi Avrohom Mondrowitz and Rabbi Ben Zion Sobel?
Israel OKs extradition of Brooklyn pedophile
suspect
BY MATTHEW KALMAN
New York Daily News - Monday, November 12, 2007
JERUSALEM - A suspected Brooklyn pedophile hiding from sex abuse charges in Israel will become the first American extradited to the U.S. under a revamped treaty, a Jerusalem court ruled Sunday.
Stefan Colmer, 30, was indicted by a Brooklyn grand jury on charges he sexually abused two 13-year-old boys from the ultra-orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn where he lived.
Hoping to avoid arrest, Colmer, a computer technician and salesman, fled to Israel and changed his name to David Cohen.
Jerusalem police arrested Colmer in June and have held him pending Sunday's extradition hearing, at which an Israeli judge ruled he must be returned to face the charges in Brooklyn.
Before a January change to the treaty, Israel and the U.S. had agreed to extradite suspected sex criminals only if they had been charged with rape.
Colmer is suspected of performing oral sex on the two boys over several months last year after luring them to his home from a nearby yeshiva high school, according to the U.S. Justice Department's extradition request.
The Brooklyn grand jury indicted Colmer on eight counts of criminal sexual acts. If found guilty, he could face up to seven years in prison.
The Justice Department also has requested the extradition of another alleged Brooklyn child molester, Rabbi Avrohom Mondrowitz, who fled to Jerusalem 23 years ago amid allegations the former counselor and principal molested four boys.
Mondrowitz was arrested last month by Israeli police but was released. The Israeli Justice Ministry has refused to comment on the case. Attorney Michael Lesher, who represents six men who have accused Mondrowitz of molesting them as children, said Mondrowitz must be returned to face charges.
"I am certainly delighted to see that Colmer will be extradited to face justice in Brooklyn," Lesher said. "But we certainly will not rest until the same is done with Avrohom Mondrowitz."
Brooklyn DA Announces Extradition of Accused Sex Offender
from Israel
by Brooklyn Eagle (edit@brooklyneagle.net)
Brooklyn Eagle - January 7, 2008
http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=4&id=17654
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN â¤" Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes Monday announced that Stefan Colmer, 31, would return to the United States to face charges he sodomized two 13-year-old boys in his Midwood home in 2006.
Colmer is the first person to be extradited from Israel to the United States under a newly negotiated extradition treaty between the two countries. He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
After learning he was under investigation, in February 2007, Colmer fled to Israel. A new extradition treaty between the United States and Israel, which went into effect Jan. 10, 2007, allowed Colmer to be returned to Brooklyn. Prior to the newly amended treaty, the crimes for which Colmer is charged were not subject to extradition.
The indictment charges that between March and May 2006, Colmer sodomized two teenage boys on numerous occasions.
Colmer is charged with eight counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Second Degree, eight counts of Sexual Misconduct, 19 Counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
The new treaty may also allow for the extradition of Avrohom Mondrowitz, who claimed to be a rabbi and posed as a school psychologist in Borough Park during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was indicted in 1984 for sodomizing young boys and fled to Israel after learning he was under investigation. Since then, Mondrowitz has remained in Israel, protected by the now-defunct treaty. He was recently arrested there after the treaty was amended, and extradition proceedings are pending.
Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Doerfler is prosecuting Colmer.
Israel Extradites Bklyn 'Perv'
By Stefanie Cohen
New York Post - January 8, 2008
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01082008/news/regionalnews/israel_extradites_bklyn_perv_183962.htm
January 8, 2008 -- An accused pedophile was extradited from Israel yesterday to face charges he sodomized two 13-year-old boys, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office said yesterday.
Stefan Colmer, 30, a computer technician, is the first person returned to the United States under a new provision in a treaty with Israel that covers male sex victims. He fled in February after learning he was being probed, and was busted in Jerusalem in June.
The investigation into Colmer began following rumors he had lured boys outside a yeshiva to his nearby home.
The new provision may also allow for the extradition of Avrohom Mondrowitz, who claimed to be a rabbi and posed as a school psychologist in Borough Park during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
He was indicted in 1984 for sodomizing young boys, and fled to Israel after learning he was under investigation. He was recently arrested there, and extradition proceedings are pending
Pedophile suspect extradited from Israel charged
in NY
by Michal Lando
Jerusalem Post - January 9, 2008
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1198517337184&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
A suspected Brooklyn pedophile extradited from Israel to the US under a revised extradition treaty was arraigned and held on $10-million bail on Tuesday.
Stefan Colmer was indicted by a Brooklyn grand jury on charges that he sodomized two 13-year-old boys from the haredi Jewish community in Brooklyn where he lived.
To avoid arrest, Colmer, a computer technician and salesman, fled to Israel, where he has been hiding under the name David Cohen.
A revamped extradition treaty between the United States and Israel, which went into effect January 10, 2007, allowed Colmer to be returned to Brooklyn. Prior to the newly amended treaty, Israel and the US had agreed to extradite suspected sex criminals only if they had been charged with rape. Since last January, at least two other sex offenders have been extradited, including Michael Leon Zeve and Kenneth Frank.
"Until now, Israel has been a Mecca for sex offenders," said Vicki Polin, founder and executive director of The Awareness Center, the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault.
The indictment charges that between March and May 2006, Colmer sodomized two teenage boys on numerous occasions, after luring them to his home from a nearby yeshiva high school, according to the US extradition request.
Colmer is charged with eight counts of criminal sexual acts in the second degree, eight counts of sexual misconduct, 19 counts of sexual abuse in the second degree and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
In the Orthodox world, "the status quo has been to protect offenders' parnassa [income] and not shame family members, at the expense of shaming those who have been victimized," said Polin, who has been working in the sexual violence field for just under 25 years.
The new treaty may also allow for the extradition of Avrohom Mondrowitz, who claimed to be a rabbi and posed as a school psychologist in Boro Park during the late 1970s and early 80s. He was indicted in 1984 for sodomizing young boys, and he fled to Israel after learning he was under investigation. Since then, Mondrowitz has remained in Israel, protected by the now-defunct treaty. He was recently arrested there, pursuant to the amended treaty, and extradition proceedings are pending.
Michael Lesher, an Orthodox lawyer representing six of Mondrowitz's alleged victims and actively pursuing his extradition, has been facing intense pushback.
"I continued to bang on the door about Mondrowitz, but I am operating against tremendous institutional logic," said Lesher. "He should have been first to be extradited years ago. When they arrested Colmer, I think they were testing the waters."
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Last Updated: 01/08/2008
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