Yeshiva Teacher Seeks to Withdraw Sex-Abuse Plea

A New Jersey yeshiva teacher claims he was pressured by members of his Orthodox Jewish community to plead guilty to sexually abusing a child.

Yosef Kolko is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court Thursday to try and withdraw his plea.
 
The Asbury Park Press reports that in legal filings, Kolko's attorneys say the pressure included a meeting in which he was shown YouTube videos of how child molesters are treated in prison.
 
Kolko pleaded guilty in May while he was on trial on several counts including aggravated sexual assault. The crimes allegedly involved an 11-year-old boy Kolko met at a camp in 2007.
 
The 39-year-old Kolko is likely to be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if he is not allowed to withdraw his plea.

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