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Case of Rabbi Richard Marcovitz




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Case of Rabbi Richard Marcovitz back to table of contents OKC community divided over case of accused rabbi
(05/03/2002)
Police Sgt. Willie Edwards said in an affidavit that he spoke to 20 people who backed up the stories of two girls, ages 12 and 9, as well as a 26-year-old teacher and a 17-year-old daycare worker. All four said he touched them on their breasts or bottoms.
Accused Rabbi Makes Court Appearance
(03/14/2002)
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A preliminary hearing date was set Thursday for a rabbi facing charges of lewd acts with two girls who attended a religious school and sexual battery involving two women who worked there.
An Oklahoma County District Court judge set an April 29 hearing for Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, 65.

An Oklahoma City rabbi accused of lewd behavior with children
(2002)
An Oklahoma City rabbi accused of lewd behavior with children was arraigned Thursday and freed on $80,000 bond. Richard Marcovitz is charged with a total of 11 counts -- six for alleged sexual battery and five for lewd behavior with a child. The incidents allegedly happened at a Jewish day school in Oklahoma City. Marcovitz is now on administrative leave from the Emanuel Synagogue. He will be back in court April 29.
Accused Rabbi To Stay On At Synagogue - Marcovitz Facing Child Molestation Charges
(02/21/2002)
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A local rabbi who was arrested on complaints of sexual battery and committing lewd acts with a child will continue to serve as rabbi of his synagogue until the charges are substantiated, Emanuel Synagogue said Friday.
Rabbi Facing Child Molestation Charges Rabbi Richard Marcovitz (pictured, right), 64, was arrested Thursday after police questioned him about complaints he might have improperly touched two children and had inappropriate contact with two teachers, a police report said.



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OKC community divided over case of accused rabbi
http://www.news-star.com/stories/050302/New_17.shtml

News-Star (Oklahoma)

Friday, May 3, 2002


Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, center, leaves court after his arraignment March 14 in Oklahoma City. Marcovitz was arrested for allegedly groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school. Today, Marcovitz is expected to be in court for a hearing to determine whether a trial is warranted on 11 criminal sex charges. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The small, close-knit Jewish community in this Bible Belt city was used to seeing Rabbi Richard Marcovitz presiding over weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs.

So they were shocked to see TV images of him with his hands behind his back in handcuffs, arrested for allegedly groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school.

The case has divided a Jewish community that numbers less than 3,000 people in a metro area of more than a million, a place where the Baptist religion predominates.

A hearing scheduled for Friday to determine whether a trial is warranted on 11 criminal sex charges was postponed until June 7 because Marcovitz's attorney had a personal emergency.

Some congregants of Emanuel Synagogue have given up on the 65-year-old rabbi, while others hope he will be exonerated and resume his work as a religious leader, said Henryk Orlowski, a real estate agent who has been active in the local Jewish community for 20 years.

"I hate to see the rift in the whole community," he said. "We could have repercussions for years to come and unhappiness among individuals for the way everything was handled."

The criminal investigation began on Feb. 7, when police were told that Marcovitz had touched a child in an inappropriate way at the Oklahoma City Jewish Community Day School, which is located at the synagogue.

Police Sgt. Willie Edwards said in an affidavit that he spoke to 20 people who backed up the stories of two girls, ages 12 and 9, as well as a 26-year-old teacher and a 17-year-old daycare worker. All four said he touched them on their breasts or bottoms.

Edwards said the people he spoke to either saw the touching or heard the four people complain about it. "All the victims advised this happened several times over a period of at least a year," Edwards said.

Marcovitz was released on $80,000 bond. Within a few days, he was placed on administrative leave from the 200-family Conservative synagogue, where he has worked for six years.

The synagogue, founded in 1904, has continued to hold religious services without the rabbi, who has been holding services of his own in his home.

Marcovitz, known for his booming voice and outgoing manner, has been a local fixture. Every year he helps children light a large menorah outside the synagogue. He has explained Jewish traditions to newspapers and television stations and has expressed views about Israel.

Marcovitz faces five charges of lewd acts with a child under 16, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and six counts of sexual battery, which carry 5-year terms.

"I am looking forward to the truth coming out, and if the truth comes out, I think the right thing will happen," said Marcovitz's attorney, Billy Bock.

The case has gained notoriety because of his position as a rabbi in a city where many residents do not have a great knowledge of Judaism, Bock said.

"Because he's a rabbi, it's a bigger deal, and in Oklahoma, I don't know that we have a great understanding of what a rabbi is," the attorney said.

Oklahoma City's Jewish population is small compared to other major U.S. cities. Few Jews participated in the land run that populated the Oklahoma territory in 1889. The city does not have the Jewish delicatessens, butchers or bakers seen in many other major urban areas.

Rabbi David Packman, who presides at the Reform Temple B'Nai Israel in Oklahoma City, said problems of molestation in the Roman Catholic Church also have drawn additional attention to the case.

"It's the hot issue of the day," he said.

Assistant District Attorney Jodie Casey said religion does not affect how she is handling the case.

"In our opinion, it's being handled similar to any other case," Casey said. "Just like in any case, when anyone has authority, that's another piece of the evidence. But that doesn't change the way the case is prosecuted."

Synagogue President Robert Epstein said he hopes some good will eventually come out of a bad situation.

"I think there are people who feel this has created harm and I think at the same time, everyone is trying to reach out to create more harmony," he said.

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Accused Rabbi Makes Court Appearance
Marcovitz Arraigned On 11 Felony Counts

March 14, 2002

Eyewitness News - channel 5

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/okl/news/stories/news-130473220020314-150345.html


OKLAHOMA CITY -- A preliminary hearing date was set Thursday for a rabbi facing charges of lewd acts with two girls who attended a religious school and sexual battery involving two women who worked there.

An Oklahoma County District Court judge set an April 29 hearing for Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, 65.

Marcovitz made his first court appearance during a private hearing held in Special Judge Russell Hall's chambers. Marcovitz's attorney, Billy Bock, requested the private appearance.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred between August 2000 and May 2001 at the Solomon Schechter Academy, now called the Oklahoma City Jewish Day School. The school is based at the synagogue.

The girls involved in the complaint were 9 and 12. The allegations against the rabbi involve inappropriate sexual touching.

Marcovitz was arrested in February.

He was charged with five counts of lewd acts with a child under 16. Each of these charges carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. He was also charged with six counts of sexual battery, which each carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.

Marcovitz has been placed on administrative leave from Emanuel Synagogue, where he has worked for the past six years.

Marcovitz said he is innocent of the charges and plans an active defense in court, Bock said.

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Oklahoma City rabbi accused of lewd behavior with children
(2002)

http://www.jewsweek.com/039.htm

An Oklahoma City rabbi accused of lewd behavior with children was arraigned Thursday and freed on $80,000 bond. Richard Marcovitz is charged with a total of 11 counts -- six for alleged sexual battery and five for lewd behavior with a child. The incidents allegedly happened at a Jewish day school in Oklahoma City. Marcovitz is now on administrative leave from the Emanuel Synagogue. He will be back in court April 29.


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Accused Rabbi To Stay On At Synagogue

Marcovitz Facing Child Molestation Charges

February 21, 2002

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/okl/news/stories/news-124707220020221-170247.html


OKLAHOMA CITY -- A local rabbi who was arrested on complaints of sexual battery and committing lewd acts with a child will continue to serve as rabbi of his synagogue until the charges are substantiated, Emanuel Synagogue said Friday.

Video

Rabbi Facing Child Molestation Charges Rabbi Richard Marcovitz (pictured, right), 64, was arrested Thursday after police questioned him about complaints he might have improperly touched two children and had inappropriate contact with two teachers, a police report said.

In the first complaint, a girl said she was touched between Jan. 1 and May 25, 2000, AT the Solomon Schecter Academy. The school is at Emmanuel Synagogue where Marcovitz is rabbi.

The second complaint came from school officials who said Marcovitz had been touching a second girl at the school in an inappropriate manner between Jan. 2 and Feb. 8.

In a statement, the executive board of Emanuel Synagogue said Marcovitz would remain in his position as rabbi until the charges are proven.

"We refuse to be the purveyors of gossip, second-hand, hearsay or innuendo," the executive board said. "A person in our country and the state of Oklahoma is not supposed to be condemned by such words or determined to be guilty by the police or the press.

"The ultimate judgment regarding the allegations and charges against Rabbi Marcovitz must await his opportunity to have his day in court facing his accusers," the board said. (Click here to read board's full statement.)

Marcovitz will be relieved of his responsibilities educating children, the board said, during the investigation.

Meanwhile, Marcovitz's attorney said his client is "distraught" about the allegations and denies any wrongdoing.

"Allegations are allegations, and we are ready to defend them," Billy Bock said. "He certainly denies any wrongdoing, and we'll see what happens during the process."

Bob Weiss, a member of Marcovitz's congregation, said the complaints were unexpected.

"To the majority of the congregation, it came out of the blue," Weiss said.

Investigators are running checks on Marcovitz's background to determine if the rabbi has a criminal history.

Marcovitz is free on $80,000 bond.


Video - Rabbi Facing Molestation Charges



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