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Case of Rabbi Edward Schlaeger

Shelton, CT

West Haven - Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System in Bridgeport, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Arrested on a warrant Saturday and charged with one count of third-degree possession of child pornography.

Networking and Self-Help Groups for the Awareness Center This link will bring you to a list of different mailing lists offered by The Awareness Center. We offers several different email groups,which include our general mailing list, press-releases, Jewish survivors of childhood sexual abuse, Jewish Survivors of Clergy Abuse (by Rabbis and Cantors), Parents of children who were molested, Family members of sex offenders, etc.

Table of Contents:  

1. Ex rabbi arrested on child porn charge (08/28/2006)
2. Ex rabbi surrenders on count of child porn  (08/28/2006)
3. Caseworker And Former Rabbi Arrested On Pornography Charges  (08/30/2006)
4. Ex-rabbi's kid-porn arraignment delayed  (09/07/2006)

Also see:  

1. The Awareness Center's Brochure  

2. Rabbis, Cantors and Other Trusted Officials

3. Offenders: Problems Our Parents Wouldn't Speak Of

4. Recidivism of Sex Offenders  (U.S. Department of Justice: Center for Sex Offender Management)

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by GENEVIEVE REILLY greilly@ctpost.com

Connecticut Post, CT - August 28, 2006

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4251291

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4254056

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14568964/

TRUMBULL — A former West Haven rabbi now working as a counselor for the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has been arrested on a child pornography charge.

Edward Schlaeger, 51, of Hawthorne Avenue, Shelton, was arrested on a warrant Saturday and charged with one count of third-degree possession of child pornography.

He was released after posting a court-set bond of $10,000 and is scheduled to appear Sept. 7 in Bridgeport Superior Court.

According to Trumbull police, the pornography was discovered by Schlaeger's wife last September when she was cleaning out their former home here on Stonehouse Drive. The couple was being divorced.

Schlaeger's wife notified police, and search-and-seizure warrants were executed at both the Trumbull and Shelton addresses that same month.

Items confiscated by police included CDs and videos, all depicting pre-teens.

Schlaeger surrendered Saturday at police headquarters.

He is an employee of the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System in Bridgeport, a division of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

His supervisor, James Pisciotta, declined to comment and referred all questions to the department's spokesman, who could not be reached Monday for comment.

Genevieve Reilly, who covers Trumbull, can be reached at 330-6256.

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GENEVIEVE REILLY greilly@ctpost.com

Connecticut Post - August 29, 2006

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4254056

TRUMBULL — A former West Haven rabbi now working as a counselor for the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has been arrested on a child pornography charge.

Edward Schlaeger, 51, of Hawthorne Avenue, Shelton, was arrested on a warrant Saturday and charged with one count of third-degree possession of child pornography.

He was released after posting a court-set bond of $10,000 and is scheduled to appear Sept. 7 in Bridgeport Superior Court.

According to Trumbull police, the pornography was discovered by Schlaeger's wife last September when she was cleaning out their former home here on Stonehouse Drive. The couple was being divorced.

Schlaeger's wife notified police, and search-and-seizure warrants were executed at both the Trumbull and Shelton addresses

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NBC-30 News - August 30, 2006

TRUMBULL, Conn. -- A state caseworker and former rabbi has been arrested on charges of possessing child pornography.

Edward Schlaeger, 51, currently lives in Shelton. But police say his estranged wife found the material at the house they used to share in Trumbull.

According to the arrest warrant, police seized boxes of pornography and two discs containing images of what they believe are underage women.

Schlaeger is free on bond and is suspended with pay from the state department of mental retardation and addiction services.

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MICHAEL P. MAYKO mmayko@ctpost.com

Connecticut Post, CT

September 7, 2006

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4301104

BRIDGEPORT — A former West Haven rabbi and state social worker charged with having child pornography had his arraignment postponed until later this month so he can hire a lawyer.

Superior Court Judge Earl Richards granted Edward Schlaeger's request to delay his expected not-guilty plea during an appearance Thursday.

Schlaeger, 51, of Hawthorne Avenue in Shelton, is the former rabbi of Congregation Sinai in West Haven. He recently worked as a counselor for the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System in Bridgeport, a division of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Wayne Dailey, a department spokesman, said Schlaeger has been on paid administrative leave since his arrest Aug. 24.

Schlaeger surrendered to Trumbull police on that day, following a year-long investigation that included searches of his former home on Stone House Road in Trumbull and his current home in Shelton. He has been free on bond since.

Trumbull police began investigating.

Schlaeger after his estranged wife turned over a series of suspected child pornography videos to the lawyer handling her divorce. The videos and other evidence gathered during the searches were reviewed by the State Police Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence laboratory, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and officials with the Yale-New Haven Medical Center Sexual Abuse Evaluation Program before charges were filed.

Meanwhile, Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Marcello is is considering transferring the case from the Superior Court, Part B on Golden Hill Street court to Superior Court, Part A on Main Street.

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Last Updated:  09/08/2006

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