Man Charged with Sex Abuse in Jewish Temple, by Berkeley Brean, WHEC, February 8, 2010

Man Charged with Sex Abuse in Jewish Temple

By Berkeley Brean
WHEC
February 8, 2010

http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S1406586.shtml?cat=566

IRONDEQUOIT (NY) -- A Rochester man is accused of sexually abusing a young girl inside a Jewish temple in Irondequoit.

Orlando Colon is charged with first degree sexual abuse.

We obtained a copy of his statements to police.

Colon admitted he sexually abused one girl at Temple Beth David.

He is not Jewish, but he said he went to the temple to find God, because, "Jesus was a Rabbi."

Police say it turned criminal after the service was over.

The president of the temple, Martin Presberg, said, "Temple Beth David is a very welcoming community and what we want to do is we want to use that welcoming stance that we have to everyone and use it to enhance our security."

Police say after the service Saturday morning, at around noon, Colon was downstairs trying to sexually abuse at least one nine-year-old girl. It was the first time Colon was ever in the temple.

Presberg said, "So while everyone is welcome to come, we'll be paying a little bit closer attention to people who aren't necessarily part of the community."

Presberg talked about enhanced security at the temple. He said the downstairs area, where they have a school, is now off limits. He also said temple members will man certain doorways. He said it's just a matter of heightened awareness. Their guard was down, and he said it's not going to happen again.

Presberg said, "If we're paying attention to people because we want them to feel at home, we'll be paying attention to them as well and observe if something unusual or inappropriate starts to happen."

Kristina Karle, Assistant District Attorney and the prosecutor in the case, said, "Am I surprised of where this is alleged to have occurred? Not really."

"We see when there are allegations of child sexual abuse that oftentimes people will go to where children are at. We've seen it with daycare centers, churches, schools," Karle said.

The most disturbing part of this case might be Colon's statement to police. He told them he went to the temple "trying to find God." He said he was "hallucinating," and at one point, thought he saw the "doors of Heaven."

He said he "did expose myself" and admitted he committed "lewd sexual acts."

Karle said, "When you read it in his statement that was given to the police, there are things in there that are alarming and concerning."

Colon's statements to police are some of the strangest stuff you've ever heard.

As far as we can tell, Orlando Colon has never been convicted of a sex crime before. He got probation for a misdemeanor drug charge in 2005.

He's back in court Wednesday night.

The judge wants a mental health evaluation.