By Anna Gustafson
The owner of a Kew Gardens Hills bakery pleaded guilty to molesting a 10-year-old boy who came into his store for cookies, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said last week.
Issac Ebstein, the 50-year-old resident who owns Queens Kosher Pita, pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted sexual abuse and attempted endangering the welfare of a child in Queens Supreme Court June 8, Brown said. Queens Kosher Pita is at 68-36 Main St. in Kew Gardens Hills.
Ebstein, who lives in Brooklyn, befriended the victim, who is now a teenager, in 2002, when the boy would come into his store for sweets and he would bring the then-10-year-old on drives around Queens, the DA said. During these drives throughout the borough, Ebstein touched the boy’s genitals and had the boy touch his, the DA said. This abuse happened on three occasions between Jan. 1, 2002, and Dec. 31, 2002, Brown said.
The events permanently changed the boy’s life, according to Brown.
“The defendant has pleaded guilty to having taken advantage of the innocence of his young victim,” Brown said. “As a result, the child has been severely traumatized and emotionally scarred for life. Fortunately, the defendant’s guilty plea will save the youngster from having to testify and recount the situation that he endured.”
Had Ebstein pleaded not guilty and the matter had gone to trial, the victim would have had to discuss the molestation.
Ebstein was expected to be sentenced Tuesday. Queens Supreme Court Justice Sheri Roman indicated she would sentence Ebstein to one year of probation and weekly sex offender counseling for one year, Brown said.
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e-mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 174.
