Police arrest convicted pedophile rabbi who fled to Israel from the US in 2001

Police arrested a convicted pedophile this morning in Jerusalem, after he fled the United States to Israel over two decades ago while on probation following his release from prison.

Mordechai Yom Tov, a Chabad-affiliated rabbi and teacher, is a wanted fugitive in the US and is due for extradition after committing severe sexual offenses against minors under his tutelage.

He was arrested in Los Angeles in 2001 and swiftly charged with 10 counts of indecent acts against three of his male students, ages 8-10. The victims claimed he molested them in a classroom during recess.

Yom Tov was only convicted on two of the counts, after prosecutors dropped the charges in exchange for a guilty plea. He could have served up to 40 years in prison, according to a local report from the time of his trial.

After being released from prison a year later, Yom Tov was put on probation, but violated the terms of his sentence by escaping to Israel, where he concealed his identity and avoided documentation. He was due to stand trial in another case, police say.

Extradition permits were issued several weeks ago for Yom Tov, and police arrested him this morning in his hideout in Jerusalem’s northern Tel Arza neighborhood.

His remand was extended this morning by a Jerusalem court until Wednesday next week, police say. The extradition process is ongoing.