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Phoenix Rabbi Arrested for Rape of 7 Year Old Girl

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/so...k0KbsF0Kw.cspx

Report: Valley rabbi arrested for sexually assaulting child
Reported by: Katie Fisher
Email: kfisher@abc15.com
Last Update: 3/24 5:11 pm

CHANDLER, AZ -- An East Valley rabbi was arrested Tuesday for sexually assaulting a child in New York 10 years ago, according to authorities. Bryan Bramly, 45, was taken into custody in the parking lot of the Temple Beth Sholom Synagogue in Chandler by members of the U.S. Marshals and detectives with the New York Police Department.

According to court documents obtained Wednesday, Bramly is considered to be a flight risk as he is not a U.S. citizen; he was issued a green card in October 2009 and is from Victoria, British Columbia. Bramly has reportedly also lived in Israel in the past. Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Henman said Rabbi Bramly is accused of raping a 7-year-old girl in March 2000 in New York City.

The victim, now 17, reported the incident to police in August 2009. The alleged assault happened while the victim was spending the night at Bramly's New York home.

Bramly, who currently works at the Chandler synagogue, was reportedly living in New York with his family while he was completing his studies to become a rabbi.

Adam Schwartz, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, issued a statement about Bramly's arrest Wednesday. “We first learned about this situation through the media and as the story develops in the press we are learning more details. This is obviously an extremely serious situation and we are very concern (sic) for all involved,” [Read "especially the Jews and the rabbi,"] he said.

According to Henman, Bramly is currently being held at the Maricopa County Jail while awaiting extradition to New York to face charges of first degree rape. "Our offices in New York and Arizona working in concert with NYPD, were able to locate and arrest an individual accused of preying on our most valuable commodity, a child," said U.S. Marshal David Gonzales.