Why Is Mendy Tevel Still Not On The Sex Offender Registry?

Frum Follies
July 7, 2016

https://frumfollies.wordpress.com/2016/07/06/why-is-mendy-tevel-still-not-on-the-sex-offender-registry/

Rabbi Menachem M (Mendy) Tevel (aka Tewel)

On June 8, 2015 ~33-year-old (born 1983) Menachem Tewel (aka Mendy Tevel) was sentenced to one year of imprisonment for repeatedly performing oral sex on a 14-year-old camper over a period of a year.

He was released after serving almost eight months on January 24, 2016 without any prior sex offender hearing. This is unusual. Yet more unusual, is that by now, almost six months have passed since his release, nine “risk level assessment hearings” were scheduled, and there has still not been any court ruling. Perhaps this is justifiable, but the DA’s office has not offered up any explanations when asked.

Tevel got a sweetheart deal typical of the Brooklyn District Attorney when dealing with the ultra orthodox community with its powerful block vote, and its pattern of witness intimidation. To date, DA Kenneth Thompson has never indicted an ultra orthodox Jew for witness intimidation.

The now-adult victim of Tewel described these intimidation and bribery attempts which were never prosecuted:

During the last few months leading up this day [of sentencing], some have tried to threaten or bribe me to drop the charges. I was offered $200,000 to sign documents stating that I consented to and requested the sexual activity and therefore it was not abuse.

Others have tried the other approach, threatening me that they have 4 girls willing to testify that I raped them and they will come forward after the sentencing. I have been threatened to have my name smeared publicly in our community to the point that my wife and I would “literally” be unable to walk the streets.

Some have gone as far as to approach my wife and attempt to convince her to leave me.

Tevel is married into the wealthy and influential Illulian family of Chabad. This amplifies Tevel’s intimidation reach in Crown Heights. That reach might extend into the office of the Brooklyn DA.

Tewel was charged with 37 felony counts including 9 counts of 1^st degree Criminal Sexual Act by Force (B felony PL 130.50.1). If tried and convicted he could have been sentenced for hundreds of years. Instead he pled guilty to five counts of a “criminal sexual act” (E felony PL 130.40.02) and by agreement with the prosecutor, this covered all his other charges. If he had been forced to plead guilty to even a single B felony, he could have easily ended up serving 5-10 years in prison. (See charge sheet at end of post).

Risk level assessments for placement on the Offender Registry are normally held before defendants are released. These hearings assign a classification based on the convict’s likelihood of re-offending.

After release, an offender has 10 days to complete registration with information about address, employer, car details, and a recent photo. If they fail to register within those ten days they have committed a new crime and will be arrested and charged. If they are classified at the higher risk levels of 2 or 3, the information is available to the public. If only classified at level 1, the information is only available to law enforcement and other approved parties.

I do not know why the issue has not been resolved. Other interested parties have asked the office of the DA to explain this but have not gotten any answer. I don’t know how he is pulling off these delays, but I can speculate on his motives. Judge Foley has a reputation as a tough judge who tends to classify sex offenders on the high er end of the risk scale. Perhaps his attorney is hoping to delay and get another judge. If he is classified as tier 1 rather than the higher tiers 2 or 3, his registration is not visible to the public.

He and his family may also be working to intimidate witnesses who may appear at the classification hearing, including other victims who could further establish his history and the dangers he poses as a both a sex offender and a sadist into whipping boys on their naked buttocks.

Tevel is a dangerous man. His arrest and indictment did not deter him from continuing to work with children while awaiting trial through the JEM Center in Los Angeles controlled by his in-laws.I hope the DA and the judge will finally complete the determination process and classify him above level 1 so the uninformed public can easily learn about him and take steps to protect their children.