Boy who says rabbinical student sexually assaulted him will testify
- Haim Boukris, the South Fallsburg rabbinical student accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy, listens to opening statements during the beginning of his non-jury trial at the Sullivan County Courthouse on Thursday.
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MONTICELLO - The boy who said a South Fallsburg rabbinical student sexually assaulted him will testify about the alleged incident, according to Sullivan County Assistant District Attorney Eamonn Neary.
Neary said on Thursday that the boy has “gone through hell” ever since coming forward about the allegations against Haim Boukris. Neary also said the boy’s father will testify about how his son’s behavior changed following the alleged incident in 2011, when the boy was 11 years old.
“(The father) will testify about the abuse him and his son face in the community,” Neary said.
Both Neary and Kenneth Gribetz, the New City attorney representing the 29-year-old Boukris, delivered opening statements before Sullivan County Court Judge Frank LaBuda on Thursday.
Boukris was arrested in April and charged with predatory sexual assault against a child and first-degree sexual abuse, both felonies.
Gribetz said Boukris will also testify during the trial.
Boukris went through a difficult time after being accused by the boy, according to Gribetz. Gribetz then went after the DA’s office for bringing the case to trial because, he said, there’s “not a scintilla of scientific evidence” or any witnesses who saw the incident.
Gribetz also criticized the boy for taking three years after the alleged incident occurred to speak out.
“One thing is for certain, (the boy) was never ever molested by (Boukris),” Gribetz said. “This is an enormous miscarriage of justice.”
Neary went through some details about the incident. He said both Boukris and the boy - who were familiar with each other - were at a grocery store when Boukris offered the boy a ride.
It was in the car where Boukris performed oral sex on the boy in Fallsburg, according to Neary. Neary said Boukris then drove the boy to a nearby bungalow colony and took him into the woods. There, Neary said Boukris took off his clothes and undressed the boy. Boukris then forced the boy to perform oral sex on him, according to Neary.
After that, Neary said Boukris performed anal sex on the boy.
The day ended following opening statements because LaBuda must rule on several motions before him.
The trial will resume at 10 a.m. Monday.
abeam@th-record.comhttp://www.recordonline.com/article/20151112/NEWS/151119763/101008