Jacob Daskal, the founder and longtime leader of a private Jewish safety patrol group in Brooklyn, has pleaded guilty to a crime related to the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl. The guilty plea comes after more than five years since Daskal’s initial arrest and charges for sex crimes involving the alleged abuse of the girl.
Daskal, who was the head of the Boro Park Shomrim security group, admitted to grooming the girl for sexual exploitation and engaging in sexual acts with her multiple times. The abuse took place in Brooklyn, upstate New York, and Chicago. Daskal used his position as a community leader to exert pressure on the victim, coercing her into silence.
As a result of his guilty plea, Daskal will face a prison sentence ranging from 14 to 17 years and will be required to register as a sex offender. The US Department of Justice made the announcement regarding the plea deal.
Breon Peace, the US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, emphasized that Daskal’s admission of guilt demonstrates his abuse of power, trust, and position in the community. The statement reiterated the commitment to bringing those who violate children to justice and ensuring that no one is above the law.
Daskal’s guilty plea spared him from facing additional charges, which were set to go to trial. Some details of the prosecution’s case, including explicit text messages exchanged between Daskal and the victim, were revealed in court filings opposing Daskal’s attempts to delay the trial.
According to reports, Daskal had close ties with local law enforcement and Orthodox politicians in Brooklyn before his arrest. During his plea hearing, he expressed remorse and acknowledged transporting the 15-year-old victim from Brooklyn to New Jersey when he was 58 years old at the time.