Grace Perez, Domestic and Sex Offense Expert, on Nechemya Weberman and Ultra-Orthodox Jews' Reactions to Sex Abuse Allegations

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If you have been following the story of Nechemya Weberman, an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man accused of being a child molester, you might have thought that it sounds all too familiar.

Weberman, 53, had been working as an unlicensed therapist in the uber-insular community. One of his patients, a young girl who attended "sessions intended to promote her religious practice," accused him of sexually assaulting her beginning when she was 12, according to the New York Times. The community has rallied behind him, it seems, with thousands attending a fundraiser for his legal defense Wednesday evening and a mere hundred people protesting in defense of the victim, who has been lambasted as a "liar."

Rewind to May 2011. The Voice detailed a similar saga taking place in El Barrio: Juan Caceres, a prominent leader of the Mexican community, had been convicted of repeatedly raping his own daughter. Instead of rallying behind her, they publicly villified her.

The Voice wanted to get a better understanding of why this shaming takes place. So we reached out to Grace Perez. She has worked as a sex abuse and domestic violence victims advocate in the New York metropolitan area for some 30 years and organizes the annual Brides March. What did she say?

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Cop-Killer George Villanueva Looking At 30 Years In Prison For Fatally Pushing Police Officer

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NY1
George Villanueva
When 43-year-old George Villanueva pushed a cop at his apartment last year, he probably didn't expect the officer to die. He probably didn't think it could land him in the hoosegow for the next three decades, either. But it might.

Villanueva was convicted of first-degree aggravated manslaughter today after fatally pushing NYPD Officer Alain Schaberger off a stairwell at his Brooklyn apartment in March of last year (he was found not guilty of a murder charge, which could have landed him in prison for life). He's now looking at more than 30 years in prison when he's sentenced later this month.


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Bronx Seniors Expected to Protect Themselves from Robbers With Whistles

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Seniors south of Bronx Park say they don't feel safe because of a recent rash of robberies. So the City is arming them with...whistles.

Yep, you read that right. Whistles.

Here's what's up: Robberies have swelled by 41 percent in the 48th Precinct, the Daily News notes. This includes West Farms and other Community Board 6 neighborhoods.

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Child Molesters Lose Access to Video Games for Children, AG Eric Schneiderman Announces (UPDATE)

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Time for some good news and some bad news.

The good news? The online video game accounts of 3,500 sex offenders registered in New York have been closed.

The bad news? Apparently, 3,500 registered sex offenders were able to get gaming accounts with platforms frequented by children -- such as Electronic Arts and Disney Interactive -- in the first place.

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Can an App Prevent Rape?

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Sometime last year, Nancy Schwartzman came across a tech competition -- the 2011 White House "Apps Against Abuse Technology Contest." The Brooklyn filmmaker and founder of The Line Campaign wondered: can a simple app prevent sexual assault and dating violence?

So the Sunset Park resident partnered with Deb Levine, ISIS founder and mobile app expert, to design Circle of 6 -- which sends out a help-seeking text alert to six friends with two taps. The pair submitted their prototype to the contest and won, but the iPhone app just launched several weeks ago. It has already been downloaded some 20,000 times.

Schwartzman tells Runnin' Scared: "We basically just wanted to make it really easy for people to get out of bad situations."

How does it work?

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Ever Cheat on Your Spouse? Then You Could Get Strip Searched!

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America, fuck no!

Runnin' Scared recently brought you news of the damning 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision that OKs strip searches for any offense -- even something so minor as an unpaid parking ticket.

Yes, it is absurd -- and just plain wrong -- that jailers can now make inmates undergo cavity searches for a parking ticket.

And specifically in New York, there are plenty of minor offenses in the penal code that can lead to these invasive investigations.

Some of these crimes?

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You Can Get Strip Searched for an Unpaid Parking Ticket: Thanks, U.S. Supreme Court

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Bad news if you don't like getting dehumanized: The U.S. Supreme Court just ruled 5-4 to OK strip searches for any offense.

What this means: if you get booked for an offense as minor as an unpaid parking ticket, you might have to bare all for corrections officers before being admitted to jail.

Yep, you read that right. Something as minor as an unpaid parking ticket can require that you suffer an immense indignity -- including cavity searches -- without having been convicted of any crime.

And jail officials don't even have to suspect that you're carrying contraband.

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Manuel Mayi: 21 Years After Teen's Murder, Mother Lacks Answers (UPDATE)

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Altagracia Mayi, in 2002
On March 28, 1991, Manuel Mayi was beaten to death by a mob in Corona, Queens.

At the time, as many as 10 white individuals chased the 18 year-old Dominican for 16 blocks. They then hit him with baseball bats, fatally cracking his skull. Cops made three arrests. The District Attorney tried one individual, who was not convicted.

Altagracia Mayi, his mother, still wants answers: "I will never tire of seeking justice," she told El Diario.

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Family of John Collado, Inwood Father Killed by NYPD Officer, Calls for Federal Investigation

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Sam Levin
City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez with family members of John Collado who was killed last year.
A day after thousands marched in Union Square for Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old who was shot in Florida, the family members of the late John Collado gathered in a small law office yesterday afternoon to call for a federal investigation into the Inwood father of five's shooting death at the hands of a plainclothes cop.

Collado was shot last September by a detective with the NYPD, who was carrying out a drug bust. The family members and their lawyer claim that the officer's shooting of Collado, who was not a target in the sting operation, was unwarranted and that the officer didn't reveal that he was with the NYPD and should have had backup with him. Officials claim that Collado had the detective in a chokehold as the officer was attempting to arrest Collado's neighbor.

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New York's Child Victims Act: What You Need to Know (UPDATE)

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Since it's officially Timothy Cardinal Dolan week, why not keep the celebration going with a little more info on the Catholic leader's legislative positions?

Yesterday, Runnin' Scared wrote about Dolan's opposition to the Reproductive Health Act, which would codify abortion rights in the state, and de-criminalize late-term terminations.

Today, we bring you deets about the Child Victims Act, a pending policy which, if passed, would extend the statute of limitations for victims of sexual abuse.

Dolan has publicly opposed the law, sponsored by Rep. Margaret M. Markey (pictured here).

He says that it would basically bankrupt the church, even calling the proposed measure "unjust" to Catholics.

(Runnin' Scared reached out to the Archdiocese of New York for comment. We'll update when we hear back.)

Click for a brief explanation of this polemic policy.

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