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Updated 01/12/2010 05:58 AM

Rabbi pleads guilty to child endangerment

By: Web Staff

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- A local rabbi accused of abusing two teenage boys in 2007 pleaded guilty to child endangerment.

Rabbi Yakkov Weiss, 29, appeared in Albany County Court Monday where he admitted to having "inappropriate physical contact" with the boys. He also admitted to telling one of them to lie to his parents and police about it.

Weiss, who was the founder of Chabad of Colonie and the Chabad Hebrew School, was first arrested in September 2008, then re-arrested in October while he was out on bail.

After he was arrested, Weiss released a statement saying the accusations were completely untrue and that someone was trying to retaliate against him.

As part of the plea bargain, he faces up to 60 days in jail and three years probation. Sentencing is scheduled for March 1.