Transition Of Power: Hynes acquiesces to DA-elect’s request
Brooklyn District Attorney-elect Ken Thompson has begun the process of displaying to Brooklynites that there’s a new sheriff in town. Thompson, who is set to take over as Brooklyn’s top prosecutor in January, has requested that incumbent DA Charles Hynes back down from prosecution in a sex abuse case.
A court conference was scheduled for Nov. 19 for Baruch Lebovits, who was accused of sexually molesting a young boy. Lebovits was convicted of the crime in March 2010 but was granted a retrial by Brooklyn’s Appellate Division due to the prosecution’s failure to turn over key evidence regarding allegations that Lebovits was only accused of sexual abuse as a means of extortion by his accuser.
Hynes’ office also brought charges against the accuser’s father, Sam Kellner, on the grounds of extortion, only to have two veteran prosecutors reportedly admit to Kellner’s defense attorney, “we cannot prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.”