MIAMI BEACH – A Miami Beach rabbi accused of inappropriately touching a child appeared in court Friday.
Rabbi Steve Karro, 55, did not speak in court but his defense attorney Jeff Weiner asked that the rabbi be allowed to remove his GPS monitor. The rabbi wanted it off until the end of the Jewish high holidays.
The judge granted his request but the conditions of his house arrest would remain the same. He is only allowed to attend religious services and go to work.
As part of the agreement, his probation officer will also be calling him at home to make sure Karro is there.
Weiner said that due to the charges, his client’s reputation has been “irreparably harmed” and that the “presumption of innocence has gone out the window.”
Next Friday, there will be another hearing in which the judge will decide whether or not he can continue to have his ankle monitoring bracelet off the following week.
Karro was arrested back in May.
According to his arrest report, on April 16th Karro “intentionally touched/grabbed the buttocks” of an 11-year old girl. The report also stated he kissed her along her neck after having her sit on his lap. Police said the alleged victim has known Karro for five years.
A video surfaced showing the rabbi giving an envelope to the girl’s mother which she turned over to police.
The rabbi has proclaimed his innocence and insisted his actions were not inappropriate in any way.
Karro is charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12, and lewd and lascivious conduct on a child under 16.
Karro declined to comment on the GPS matter when reached at his art gallery on Miami Beach.
Speaking through her attorney, the mother of the 11 year old said, “I leave it in the court’s good discretion to handle the case properly.”
