Lang
2/26/20
Lawyers for a former director of Hillel House accused of sexually abusing a nine-year-old boy were in court Tuesday arguing against allowing four witnesses to testify for the prosecution.
According to The Daily Iowan, attorneys for 29-year-old David Weltman argued that the witnesses’ testimony was irrelevant to whether a crime occurred. They argued that the witnesses could only testify about events that occurred in the weeks and months before and after the alleged abuse occurred, not about the alleged incident itself.
One of the witnesses, Weltman’s ex-girlfriend, told police that Weltman told her during the eight months they dated that he was sexually attracted to children between the ages of seven and 12, and that he masturbated to foreign films depicting naked children.
Other witnesses being contested by the defense include an expert on traumatized children who have suffered sexual abuse, a subject who traveled to Israel with Weltman after the alleged incident and another minor.
Prosecutors argue the witnesses could prove Weltman’s alleged actions were sexually motivated.
Judge Chad Kepros did not immediately issue a ruling on the defense’s request.
According to police, the alleged victim was taking Hebrew lessons from Weltman at the East Market Street synagogue last year. The boy reported that during a lesson, Weltman picked him up and carried him into another room, where he allegedly proceeded to put his hands inside the boy’s pants, touching his genitals inside his underwear.
Weltman was initially put on administrative leave and is now no longer associated with Hillel House.
Trial is set for March 3rd. If convicted of 2nd Degree Sexual Abuse, Weltman faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Hillel House serves University of Iowa students, but is not officially affiliated with the school.