Brooklyn judge cuts orthodox Jewish sex abuser’s sentence from 103 to 18 years, sparking outrage from victim and advocates

From EconomicTimes.com

A Brooklyn judge slashed the prison sentence of convicted child sex abuser Nechemya Weberman from 103 years to 18, a move that ignited fury from the survivor and survivor advocates as the 67-year-old, once a powerful figure in the Orthodox Jewish community, now stands just five years away from release after already serving more than a decade behind bars.

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D'Emic reduced Weberman's lengthy sentence, citing that similar offenders usually receive much shorter terms. Having served 13 years, the 67-year-old now faces just five more years behind bars.

At the resentencing hearing, the survivor delivered an emotional statement, warning that Weberman's release could pose ongoing danger due to continued community support.

"He didn't just violate my body, He violated my emotional, mental, and physical well-being as a child," the survivor said.

The survivor said Weberman's crimes reflect calculated abuse of power, not a case deserving mercy, and that he earned every year of his original 103-year sentence.

According to the Daily News website, the survivor's statement grew forceful as she described Weberman's "smug smile" and "need for control," prompting visible reactions from him on the remote feed.

"He will be welcomed back to his neighborhood and circles. Many people still trust him. He may even resume mentoring children and teens," she said. "It would be tragic if five years from now, someone else is standing here."

Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez supported Weberman's resentencing, reducing his term to 18 years plus 10 years' supervised release and mandatory sex offender registration, sparking outrage among survivor advocates.

At the hearing, Weberman admitted to sexual abuse in general, calling himself a "changed man… because I finally faced the truth of what I have done," but his credibility faltered under questioning. When pressed for details, he first claimed, "I wouldn't say exactly what I remember," and initially denied specific acts, including forcing the survivor to perform oral sex. After conferring with his lawyer, he reversed his answer, admitting, "Yes, that's true."

Asher Lovy of Za'akah condemned the decision, saying it sends a message that both the community and authorities may protect abusers over survivors.

Weberman, a former yeshiva counselor, was convicted in 2012 on 59 counts of sexual abuse, with the survivor testifying she was repeatedly forced to perform oral sex and reenact pornographic scenes.

Sarena Townsend, the survivor's attorney, said Weberman's evasive courtroom behavior "proved he remains a danger to society," and praised her client for "putting this man away and keeping him from further survivorization."

The survivor's husband wrote on social media that Weberman had, for the first time in court, admitted his crimes in front of his children.