Rabbi Will Stand Trial in Sexual Battery Case
OKLAHOMA
*
A rabbi accused of groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school will stand trial on 11 criminal sex charges, a judge in Oklahoma City decided.
Oklahoma County District Judge Donald Deason said there was enough evidence to warrant a trial for Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, 65, who faces six charges of sexual battery and five counts of lewd acts with a minor.
Deason refused a motion by Marcovitz’s attorney to have the charges reduced or dismissed.
An 18-year-old day-care worker testified that the rabbi put his hand on her thigh and buttocks numerous times from August 2001 to January 2002. A 10-year-old girl alleges the rabbi put his hands on her chest, above her breasts. A 13-year-old girl and a 28-year-old teacher testified they too had been inappropriately touched by the rabbi.
Marcovitz’s lawyer said the rabbi doesn’t dispute that he touched the girls but that it was not sexual in nature.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
