By Janis Siegel, Jewish Sound Correspondent
As the Seattle Orthodox Jewish community recovers from the conviction of a local religion school teacher on child molestation charges, a second male adult, a Sephardic Bikur Holim volunteer was arrested and charged on May 2 with the same crime.
Eli Varon, a 28-year-old man working at the Seward Park synagogue in charge of catering, cooking, and candy throwing for all of the youth through high school-aged special events and celebrations was charged with communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. An alleged meeting took place on the synagogue grounds in the late evening hours between 11 p.m. and midnight on one unspecified evening in late June or early July, 2013.
The 13-year-old female is not a synagogue member, but according to the investigation by the Seattle Police Department is a member of the community who lives in the area. The alleged victim’s mother was later told of the alleged incident and reported it to SPD on Sept. 22, 2013.
Varon was released on $25,000 bail with a hearing date set for June 10 and a court order to have no contact with the alleged victim or any minors.
Where in G-d’s name is our community going?! And what was Eli thinking?!
This is so upsetting to hear that this took place in such a loving community by someone everyone loves – I’m so sad that Eli ruined his name. Such a young guy-28 with so much a head of him. Turns out he is just sick.
I guess we don’t need a trial. Two witnesses here on this page.