Nov 13, 2008 7:32 pm US/Eastern
Man Arrested For Alleged Sex Abuse At NYC Hospital
Yakov Kramer Of Spring Valley, N.Y. Charged After Allegedly Groping A 72-Year-Old Patient At N.Y. Presbyterian
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A security vehicle sits outside New York Presbyterian Hospital, where a Spring Valley man is accused of sexually assaulting a patient.
CBS
A peculiar arrest was made at a prominent Manhattan hospital on Thursday. The charge? Sexual abuse against an elderly man.
The suspect, identified as Yakov Kramer, is a teacher whom friends said is also a rabbinical student.
The suspect's family had nothing to say after Thursday evening's arraignment.
Police said the alleged incident happened at New York Presbyterian-Columbia Medical Center around noon on Wednesday. A friend said Kramer had gone into the hospital as a visitor.
"I was told he went to pick up his wife," a friend of the suspect said.
Kramer's wife, who is six months pregnant, according to the complaint was in for an OBGYN exam.
It's charged he wandered into a hospital room of a frail 72-year-old male patient. A nurse reportedly walked in and saw Kramer allegedly standing over the man's bed.
After witnessing what was described as fondling the patient, the nurse called security. The alleged victim was able to describe what happened. The hospital spokesman said, "We received a report and we contacted the NYPD. There was an investigation and an arrest has been made."
Kramer's attorney is Israel Fried.
"Mr. Kramer denies the charges ... will be vindicated," Fried said.
The section of Spring Valley, N.Y. where Kramer lives with his wife and two children is Hasidic. A friend of the defendant did not want to be identified as he spoke from his car.
"I think it's positive lie. I know Yakov very well. It's impossible for Yakov to do this," the friend said.
"No one in this community would do such a thing," said another member of the community.
Kramer, who pleaded not guilty, claimed he was coming to the aid of a distressed patient. Bail was set at $50,000.
Kramer is employed by the Ramapo School District where he tutors in science and math.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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