Former W.H. rabbi accused of sexual abuse

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A Far Rockaway rabbi who once taught at a religion school in West Hempstead has been charged with sexually abusing a young boy from late 2009 to mid-2010.

Nassau County police arrested Gary Lieberman, 56, at his home on Beach 12th Street on Oct. 17 after investigating reports of sexual abuse involving a former student at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, at 609 Hempstead Avenue.

From November 2009 until May 2010 — according to a report filed by the chairman of the Board of Education at the Hebrew Academy this year — Lieberman assaulted the boy, who was 10 years old at the time, in a second-floor learning resource room and again inside one of the school’s restrooms. Police also said that Lieberman told the victim “if he tells anyone about this, they would not believe him because he is a rabbi.”

Though Lieberman left the Hebrew Academy in August 2010, police noted that he might have continued teaching at other private religious schools in the area.

Lieberman was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Oct. 18 and charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. He was ordered on $100,000 cash or bond bail by Judge Joy Watson.

While he pleaded not guilty to these charges, Lieberman can face up to 14 years in prison if convicted of each charge consecutively. He is set to appear in court again on Oct. 22.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incidents, or additional victims in this case, to contact the Nassau County Special Victims Squad at (516) 573-4022.