Shmarya Rosenberg
Failed Messiah
July 20, 2013
A former Miami Beach Jewish day school teacher was was arrested Tuesday on child porn charges, NBC Miami reported.
64-year-old Theodore Nusbaum voluntarily surrendered himself to federal authorities and was reportedly charged with five counts of possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit content. The charges stem from downloaded material found on Nusbaum’s home computer.
For six years, Nusbaum taught science at the Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy High School until he was placed on a personal leave of absence in October when the school was told about the criminal investigation into Nusbaum’s being conducted by the Federal government’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (commonly known as ICE).
Nusbaum reportedly left Florida shortly after his leave was granted.
“We do not know any of the details of the investigation at this time although we have been assured by law enforcement that there is no evidence that Dr. Nusbaum had any inappropriate contact with our students or that any images were found on his school-issued computer. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement. This is a difficult time for all of us at the Hebrew Academy. We have taken great care in responding to this situation in dealing with our students, faculty, and families. We are fully committed to a secure and safe environment for every member of our school community,” Dr. Roni Raab, the school’s head, reportedly said in a statement to NBC.
Nusbaum’s attorney Joel Hirschhorn, told the station that Nusbaum was staying with family in Illinois and was in therapy.
Nusbaum, who was released on $250,000 bond, reportedly faces up to 50 years in prison.