Saturday, May 12, 2018
Shomrim leader pleads not guilty to statutory rape
Shamed Shomrim big Jacob “Yanky” Daskal pleaded not guilty to felony statutory rape charges Friday, a day after he was accused of repeatedly having sex with a 15-year-old girl inside his Borough Park home.
The politically-connected Daskal, who helped start his ultra-Orthodox neighborhood’s civilian safety patrol some 30 years ago, was then released on a $75,000 bail bond.
A prosecutor revealed in Brooklyn Supreme Court that the DA has possession of a controlled call that implicates Daskal.
Speaking at a brief afternoon arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Kevin O’Donnell did not further describe the call or elaborate on Daskal’s relationship with the girl, except to say, “The parties are known to each other.”
The prosecutor also did not say how the shocking sex allegations surfaced. But a law enforcement source told The Post on Friday that the girl had made the allegations to a therapist, who then told police.
A grand jury has indicted Daskal on two top charges of rape in the third degree for allegedly having sex with a victim under the age of 17. That charge alone carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 1 to 4 years prison.
He is additionally facing eight lesser charges: four counts of criminal sexual act in the third degree, six counts of sexual misconduct, six counts of sexual abuse in the third degree and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The sex offences occurred at Daskal’s home on 46th Street, in August through October of 2017, according to the indictment against him.
Daskal was handcuffed and remained silent, with head bowed, as his lawyer, Evan Lipton, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
He looked disheveled after a night in custody; his black suit was rumpled and his yarmulke was slightly askew.
He was was asked by Justice Deborah Dowling whether he understood that he cannot obtain a new passport while he remains free on bail.
“Understand,” he answered in a clear, strong voice.
The prosecutor said that the DA’s office is ready for trial.
“Will I get my phones back?” he could be heard asking his lawyer as he left court.
“No,” Lipton answered. “Your phones have been seized.”
Six women and two men sat together at the arraignment, leaving with Daskal.
While Daskal was arraigned, his home became a crime scene.
Three detectives from the NYPD Crime Scene Unit spent much of the afternoon inside, searching his phone and computer records for incriminating communications, photos and videos.
Meanwhile, outside, onlookers in the largely Hasidic neighborhood stood watching in disbelief.
“He is a good man, surely this is not true!” one shocked neighbor, an older man, said.
Daskal’s next court date is June 28.
https://nypost.com/2018/05/11/shomrin-leader-pleads-not-guilty-to-statutory-rape/
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