Rabbi admits molesting 2 teenage boys
ALBANY -- An Albany-area rabbi admits he had "inappropriate physical contact" with two naked boys and told one of them to lie about it.
Yaakov Weiss, founder of the Chabad Hebrew School, pleaded guilty to child endangerment Monday in Albany County Court. He faces up to 60 days in jail and three years probation as part of a plea bargain. Sentencing is March 1.
The 29-year-old rabbi was initially charged two years ago with sexually abusing two 13-year-olds in 2007. The incidents allegedly took place in a pool, called a mikveh, used by some Jews for ritual purification.
The indictment said one of the boys sought advice from Weiss, his teacher and spiritual leader, and Weiss told him not to tell his mother or police about the incident.
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