Transient arrested in synagogue molestation

Los Angeles police arrested a transient on suspicion of molesting a 7-year-old girl at a Chabad synagogue in Sherman Oaks, authorities said today.

Officers were called to the temple in the 14900 block of Ventura Boulevard on Thursday evening after being contacted by the mother of the girl.

Eyal Magid, 28, whom police described as a transient known to some members of the congregation, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. as he left a service for the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. Magid was booked at the Van Nuys jail on suspicion of felony kidnapping and was being held in lieu of $600,000 bail.

Synagogue officials did not return calls for comment.

According to sources familiar with the case, the girl was with other children in an upstairs area of the temple when she was lured away. The attack took place in what was described as a small room or hallway.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-chabad6oct06,0,415068.story?coll=la-home-local