Jury Selection for Pedophile Yosef Kolko Begins Today!

From Frum Follies:

Jury selection is now slated to start on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

Of course there is always the possibility of a last minute plea bargain, though I have no indications that is happening. However, why would Yosef Kolko tell me that he finally realizes that he is just about out of time to make a deal? It is hard to figure out how Kolko’s thinking is being shaped by the community. There is the consideration for Kolko himself of whether to gamble  on a trial with a slight chance of acquittal but a hefty sentence if he loses the bet. Some Haredi defendants go to trial because they cannot get themselves to admit their disgusting behavior to their relatives. You would think it would be easier for Kolko, since he has an Uncle Yehuda who would understand.

The Lakewood rabbinical establishment has a lot to lose if this goes to trial. A trial will expose their involvement in a cover-up. So it is possible that some elements in Lakewood will raise mega-sums to take care of Kolko’s family while he is in jail in return for his silence. On the other hand there are some types who prefer a trial and will, if necessary, conduct a long campaign to protest his innocence publicly. It won’t help Kolko any more than a lot of public rabble rousing helped Rubashkin. But it will deter other victims of abuse from coming forward.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Jury selection for Yosef Kolko trial is scheduled to start on Wednesday, May 1, 9:00 am. See the previous posting for location and other details.

Also on Frum Follies:

Once jury selection starts it will be too late for Kolko to take a plea bargain.

When I wrote “Rabbi Yosef Kolko” some of those commenting on the blog complained that he was merely a secular studies teacher. However I have confirmed that he was a religious studies teacher in Lakewood. Regardless of whether he had smichah (ordination), he was referred as a rabbi at his place of employment. Before he became a teacher in Lakewood he worked for Yeshiva Torah Vodaath but was let go. I wonder whether Rabbi Yisroel Belsky knows things about him which he is not telling us.

Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG) leadership has put out the word that people should refuse to talk to reporters asking about the Kolko case. That are rumors circulating inside the orthodox community of Lakewood that BMG has used its influence to make sure none of the NJ papers will cover the case. If this is true, it is a frightening statement about BMG’s power and a distressing statement about the state of journalistic independence. The Asbury Park Press did a good job of covering earlier stages of the Kolko case (here, here, and here).

JUST THE FACTS
The trial will be held in front of Judge Hodgson, in the Civil Division of the Superior Court, Courtroom 16, 120 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ 08753 (case # 10-06-1181i).
If you have last minute scheduling questions, call the courthouse at (732) 929-4780. I will be Tweeting sporadically using @frumfollies and #YosefKolkoTrial.