Charges Dropped against Man Who Photographed Weberman Victim

By Josh Saul
New York Post
May 8, 2014

http://nypost.com/2014/05/08/charges-dropped-against-man-who-photographed-weberman-victim/

Joseph Fried was arrested when he was caught photographing a witness and sexual abuse victim during the trial involving Jewish leader Rabbi Nechemya Weberman who was convicted of sexual abuse.

The Brooklyn District Attorney dropped criminal contempt charges Thursday against an Orthodox Jewish man accused of taking photos of an emotional sex abuse victim as she testified in a Brooklyn court in 2012.

“There was insufficient evidence to prosecute,” a Brooklyn District Attorney spokeswoman said.

Joseph Fried was arrested along with three other men on December 29, 2012 for secretly snapping photos of the victim of prominent Orthodox counselor Nechemya Weberman while the pretty teen was on the Brooklyn Supreme Court stand.

The photos then ended up on Twitter.

The victim’s husband criticized prosecutors for letting Fried skate.

“We are very upset that DA Kenneth Thompson’s office is dropping charges against Fried and all others who intimidate victims of sexual abuse,” the husband said.

“I call on Kenneth Thompson to start taking things about sexual abuse and intimidation more seriously because if not more children’s lives will be taken away.”

Lemon Juice, one of the men arrested for taking photos, was cleared of all charges and has filed a lawsuit in April against Twitter and Blackberry to reveal the user who posted the photos of the victim using his name.

Fried and four other men were arrested last month for allegedly beating a gay black man they suspected of damaging cars in their neighborhood.