Teaneck Rabbi Accused in Sex Abuse Case Has Stroke, Trial on Hold

By Noah Cohen
The Patch
June 3, 2013

http://teaneck.patch.com/articles/teaneck-rabbi-accused-in-sex-abuse-case-has-stroke-trial-on-hold


The trial of a 65-year-old Teaneck rabbi accused of molesting two teenage boys has been delayed indefinitely after the rabbi suffered a stroke last week, NorthJersey.com reported Monday.

Uzi Rivlin was in a medically induced coma at Holy Name Medical Center, defense attorney Howard Simmons said, according to the report. Rivlin was admitted to the hospital Wednesday and was unresponsive.

Opening arguments were set to begin Monday. Prosecutors charged Rivlin in 2011 with sexually abusing the two 13-year-old Israeli boys, who were staying with him as part of a scholarship program he set up, authorities said. He pleaded not guilty in August 2011.

Simmons has maintained his client is innocent and said one of the alleged victims previously made bogus abuse allegations.

The rabbi faces charges of aggravated sexual contact, criminal sexual contact and child endangerment.