In September 2017, Williamsburg resident Joseph Grunwald was arrested for molesting a 7-year-old girl in a synagogue on Yom Kippur, and charged with 3 misdemeanor counts of forcible touching of intimate parts, acting in a manner injurious to a child, and felony sexual contact with a child under 11.

Following the indictment, Grunwald reoffended, molesting a 13-year-old boy. He was re-arrested and charged with 11 misdemeanor counts of acting in a manner injurious to a child, sexual contact with a child under 14, forcible touching and sexual abuse in the 3rd degree.

In early 2019 he pled guilty to felony sexual abuse of a child under 11 and misdemeanor sexual contact with a child under the age of 14. Last month, he was sentenced to 10 years probation and forced to register as a level-2 sex offender.

Grunwald lives on Marcy Ave in Brooklyn, NY.

If you or anyone you know has been harmed by Grunwald, please notify your local police department.

Any victims in need of support or assistance with reporting are asked to contact Jewish Community Watch – info@jewishcommunitywatch.org or 1-888-JCW-4852.

“Grunwald’s conviction is an unfortunate but critical reminder of two important aspects of sexual assault in the Orthodox Jewish community. Firstly, that children are vulnerable to unscrupulous predators even – and sometimes especially – in the most sacred of religious settings, on the holiest day of the year. Secondly, given the opportunity, abusers will often abuse repeatedly and as such, prompt reporting and support for child victims is critical.”

“It is noteworthy in this case that both parents quickly reported the abuse the authorities, allowing an investigation to take place and the offender to be removed from the street, thereby protecting countless other children from potential harm. The community owes these parents a debt of gratitude. Too often we encounter cases of parents unwilling to cooperate or support their child in pressing charges, so this case is encouraging.”

– Meyer Seewald

Founder and CEO,

Jewish Community Watch

Grunwald can be found on the Sex offender registry here.