Rabbi Daniel Greer convicted on felony charges gets 12 years in prison

Rabbi Daniel Greer, who was convicted on four counts of risk of injury to a minor, was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison, suspended after he serves 12 years.

Superior Court Judge Jon M. Alander, who scolded the prominent defendant for his actions, also ordered Greer to be on the sex offender registry for 10 years. This would coincide with Greer’s 10 years of probation.

Alander denied a defense motion that Greer be allowed to remain free, as he had been, because he was able to quickly post a $750,000 bond after he was convicted in September. Greer’s attorneys wanted this extended while his conviction is appealed.

But calling Greer a flight risk, Alander said, “He has a strong incentive to flee. This sentence exceeds his life expectancy.”

Noting Greer is 79, Alander said the life expectancy for a man of that age is nine more years. “There is no greater incentive to flee than the cold realization that he might spend the rest of his life in prison.”

When he imposed the sentence, Alander cited the trial evidence that Greer “repeatedly sexually abused the victim over many months.” Alander called this “a monumental betrayal” and “a colossal violation of trust.”

“He committed the worst possible crime in the worst possible way,” Alander said.

The victim, Eliyahu Mirlis, was 15 at the time of the assaults in 2002-03. Mirlis, who wanted his name made public, testified during the trial that Greer committed the acts at a building that was part of Yeshiva New Haven, which Greer founded, as well as at Greer’s New Haven home, at Edgewood Park and at a Branford motel.

Mirlis was in the courtroom Monday for the sentencing. Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Maxine Wilensky read aloud his victim impact statement.

“Daniel Greer is a monster,” Mirlis said in that statement. “He is charismatic, yes. But he is a twisted, angry individual.”

“Daniel Greer has never apologized for all he did to me,” Mirlis said. “Daniel Greer has no remorse. Daniel Greer should be incarcerated immediately to stop him from committing future crimes.”

Mirlis, who won a civil lawsuit in 2017 requiring Greer to pay him $21.7 million (thus far uncollected), said, “No amount of money will compensate me for the pain and suffering inflicted on me by Daniel Greer. I will never recover from the emotional pain and suffering. I will suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome for the rest of my life.”

He also said he wishes he could “turn the clock back and relive my childhood.”

Mirlis, who testified during both trials, said, “Each time I had to face Daniel Greer, it was very difficult for me to face him and his attorneys in court. I’ve endured enough trauma in my life.”

Mirlis asked Alander to impose a lengthy sentence in order to deter other perpetrators of sexual assault.

Wilensky noted in her own appeal for a long sentence that Mirlis’ wife testified he is “closed off” emotionally and distrustful. “This has affected his relationship with his wife,” Wilensky said.

Although many letters supporting Greer and his character were sent to Alander, Wilensky said those supporters were ignoring the testimony by Mirlis and another student at the school, who said Greer had groped and kissed him.

“He holds himself as a pillar of the community, a pious man, an honorable and decent man” Wilensky said of Greer. But she cited Mirlis’ testimony: “The defendant took him as a young boy with no sexual knowledge, groomed him and used his position of authority for his own sexual gratification.”

Wilensky urged Alander to no longer let Greer “hide behind his cloak” of authority. “Do not be swayed by his age. He should serve a lengthy sentence. Mr. Mirlis deserves justice.”

Greer, who came to court accompanied by his wife, Sarah Greer, was dressed in his usual black suit and wore a yarmulke. When Alander gave him an opportunity to speak, Greer said his attorneys had advised him to “remain silent” because the jury’s conviction is being appealed.

Greer’s attorney, David Grudberg, gave a lengthy description of Greer’s “good works” as a rabbi and as a leader in restoring housing and deterring crime in the Edgewood/Elm neighborhood of New Haven. Grudberg asked Alander to consider “the entirety of how he has spent his life.”

Grudberg noted Greer has been married for 48 years, fathered five children and has 25 grandchildren. Grudberg said the most painful result of the civil and criminal cases is “he has lost touch with his children and grandchildren. That has been taken away from him.”

In addition, Grudberg said, Greer’s school was closed several years ago.

“Daniel Greer has already been punished,” Grudberg said. “He was the de facto ‘mayor of Edgewood.’ But he now finds himself a pariah in the community. He has suffered public scorn. His name has been spashed across the newspaper in negative ways.”

Grudberg asserted Greer, through his school and the properties he had bought and renovated for the public, had transformed the neighborhood from a den of drug dealers and prostitutes into “a vibrant, multicultural, affordable neighborhood.” Grudberg said Greer “has benefitted hundreds, if not thousands of people in the city of New Haven.”

“In many ways this is his life’s work,” Grudberg said of Greer’s neighborhood efforts. “He hopes to continue that sometime in the future.”

Grudberg disagreed with Wilensky that Greer’s age should not be considered in his sentence. And Grudberg said Greer has health issues, including a coronary problem.

Grudberg asked Alander to impose “the lowest sentence possible” by balancing the criminal case with “all his good works.” He said a short sentence would allow Greer “to again serve this community he has so faithfully served.”

Alander said he had taken into account Greer’s community service when deciding on the sentence. But he said those achievements “do not wash away his sins.”

Alander said he also took into account Greer’s age and lack of previous criminal convictions. But he again cited what Greer had done: “Eliyahu Mirlis was a young, impressionable teenager, completely at the mercy of the defendant. He was his rabbi, his mentor and spiritual leader.”

Alander told Greer: “When, as parents, we send our children to school and take them to houses of worship, we entrust the leaders of those with the care of our children. We share an unspoken promise in understanding that our children will grow and prosper under their tutelage. When a teacher or religious leader breaks that promise, they betray that trust. It is unexpected and deeply disturbing.”

Alander said of the sentence he was imposing: “It is important that a statement be made, to be heard by others in positions of authority who might be tempted, and to be heard by the victims of sexual abuse who may find some solace in it. The Talmud (the body of Jewish law) teaches that there is hope for a man who is capable of being ashamed. It is my hope that someday you will truly feel ashamed for your actions and thereby embark on the road to redemption.”

Greer bowed his head as a judicial marshal handcuffed him. Soon afterward he was led away as his wife watched. Mirlis stared intently at Greer while this scene unfolded.

Greer originally had been scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 20. But it was delayed as Grudberg and Wilensky argued over the defense team’s motion there should be a new trial because Lawrence Dressler, who worked with prosecutors to find state’s witnesses, “intimidated” defense witnesses. Alander denied the motion by Grudberg and co-counsel William Dow III.

Greer initially was also charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault. But on the last day of testimony in the September trial, Dow cited a state statute concerning a statute of limitations on those charges. Alander then dismissed those counts.

After court adjourned Monday, Mirlis said: “We’re happy that justice was served. Hopefully this will be a deterrent for any other perpetrators and will encourage other victims to come forward so we can work on bringing an end to child sexual abuse.”

randall.beach@hearstmediact.com