Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Arrested: Achi Ben Shalom - Day School Teacher

EAST BAY ROUNDUP
Contra Costa Times
January 31, 2007

El Cerrito
TEACHER CHARGED IN MOLESTATION CASE: Prosecutors filed a felony child molestation charge Tuesday against a former teacher at a Jewish day school accused of groping a student.

Police arrested 52-year-old Achi Ben Shalom of El Cerrito in December on suspicion of committing lewd acts on a girl attending Tehiyah Day School, where he taught Hebrew and music classes.

Ben Shalom posted bail immediately after his arrest. In a phone interview with the Times last month, he denied the allegations.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is anyone reaching out to Ben Shalom's family? Is he married or have kids? My hope is that they are being provided with information and support.

February 02, 2007 12:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He isn't working at the school any more. His wife has been forced to close the day care that she runs at their home. His legal bills are mounting daily. If the allegations against him are unfounded, he will be the victim.

February 02, 2007 4:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If he's guilty or not his wife and if they have children are already the victims in this. They need support from everyone.

Is it possible for his wife to run the day care center in someone else's home since she is not able to run it from her own?

February 02, 2007 10:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am surprised that there are no comments about the child involved. Why do people think children make this kind of thing up? The police receive special training on intervention in these cases and they do not make arrests lightly. In addition, the DA would not move forward unless they thought they had a strong case. No family would willingly press charges unless they were sure, because what happens to their child in moving forward is quite difficult. It is hard for a child to give testimony. It is hard for parents to endure the doubt of the community. No one wishes this on anyone. There is not a shortage of sympathy for all affected. It is truly horrible for everyone affected.

February 17, 2007 2:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, Mr. Ben Shalom lost his job. Listening to the testimonies it seemed he was busier massaging the victim than teaching her music.
His wife's day care was closed. Maybe the fact Mr.Ben Shalom was so active on 18 sites of young porno in his house helped make that happen. I feel sorry for his wife. I don't believe she didn't know. It's time some sympathy in the community will go to the family of the molested girl.

August 26, 2007 1:53 AM  
Blogger enough said...

Adults can make choices to protect themselves. Children need us to protect them. The molested girl did not ask to be groped by a 52 year old man that she loved and trusted. Her life will never be the same. She lost her childhood and will never trust men the same way again and that is unforgivable.
Mr. Ben Shalom should be ashamed of himself for using his position to take advantage of a child. What kind of monster does such a thing and then accuses her and her family of lying about it. Children almost never lie about these things and if they do the police and investigators are trained to know when the accusations are false. I'm sorry for what his wife is going through, but, she has the choice to leave him. If she is smart and doesn't want her daughter to be the next victim she will do just that.

August 31, 2007 2:35 PM  

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