Case of Paul Slifer
High School Teacher - Kushner Yeshiva High School, Livingston, NJ
Biology and Other Sciences Teacher - Sussex County Community College
Convicted sex offender who is currently incarcerated and is scheduled for release on July 16, 2013.
Slifer was originally arraigned on six counts of aggravated sexual assault, four counts of aggravated sexual contact, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.
Note: There are several individuals by the name of "Paul Slifer". This Paul Slifer was born on November 13, 1967.
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Disclaimer: Inclusion in this website does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Individuals must decide for themselves if the resources meet their ow
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Table of Contents:
2001
- Parents praise school's actions in case against teacher at local yeshiva (02/21/2001)
2002
- Instructor named in sex suit arrested on new charge (03/13/2002)
- New Jersey Yeshiva Teacher Accused of Sex Crimes Against Youths (03/13/2002)
2003
- New Jersey Teacher Accused Of Sex Crimes Against Youth (03/13/2003)
- Kushner teacher arrested again as further allegations emerge (03/14/2003)
2013
- State of New Jersey Department of Corrections (10/19/2013)
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Parents praise school's actions in case against teacher at local yeshiva
By Enid Weiss
New Jersey Jewish News - Feburary 21, 2001
Parents are pleased with the swift action taken by Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston after officials there learned one of their teachers had been arrested for molesting a student.
"Upon learning of alleged misconduct at our school," said yeshiva principal Rabbi Scot A. Berman, school officials had no choice but "to immediately terminate Paul Slifer's employment."
Slifer, 34, of Livingston, is free on $150,000 bail after being arraigned Feb. 15 on six counts of aggravated sexual assault, four counts of aggravated sexual contact, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, said Livingston police detective Lt. Craig Handschuch. Because the assaults are said to have begun when the child was 15, the charges are more severe and are considered first-degree crimes, Handschuch said.
Police had received information regarding possible inappropriate behavior between Slifer and a student, then interviewed the student who confirmed a history of abuse that began in September 2000, Handschuch said. Police confiscated Slifer's computer and are investigating whether there are additional victims.
Handschuch did not go into detail on the assaults but said they included criminal touching and that police believe there was Internet contact with the victim. He added that the incidents occurred over an 18-month period.
Before coming to Kushner, Slifer was a part-time instructor of biology and other science classes at Sussex County Community College. He taught there between Sept. 1, 1999, and May 23, 2001, said Linda Nieman, executive director of public information at the college.
Slifer and the college are being sued for $10 million by a former student, according to a report published in The Star-Ledger. The student, Christine Peacock, alleges that Slifer flunked her after she spurned his sexual advances.
Nieman said she could not discuss Slifer further as "litigation is pending, and on the advice of counsel we have no comment."
Livingston police contacted Kushner school officials on Sunday, Feb. 10, and at 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, Slifer was arrested by Barnegat police at his mother's home in that town.
"The school has been very cooperative with police," Handschuch said. "We can't thank them enough."
Upon learning of the police investigation, school officials fired Slifer on Sunday night, said Kushner board president Alice Klein of Livingston. She said they were cognizant they "had a situation, and we had to deal with it."
Kushner board members' swift action after hearing about the allegations is in contrast to alleged inaction by officials at National Council of Synagogue Youth -- a youth group movement of the Orthodox Union -- who had for years ignored similar charges against a rabbi who held an NCSY leadership position. Upon receiving complaints that Rabbi Baruch Lanner had abused teens in his care, OU officials allegedly covered up the incidents and continued to let Lanner work with children. Lanner was charged in 2000 and faces child molestation charges in Monmouth County stemming from incidents when he was principal at a yeshiva there.
"By all means we have learned from that [incident]," Klein said of the Lanner scandal. "It can happen anywhere...and as a society, we're much more aware."
Klein said her thoughts now go out to the victim and to the rest of the school's student population.
"This has been a hard year for the children," she said, adding that the students "lost some innocence" with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "So there's been a lot of dialogue and group meetings about everything that's happened this year starting with Sept. 11. I think the children have really matured."
"I was shocked at what happened," Simon Jacob, a West Orange parent of several Kushner students, said upon hearing of the charges against Slifer. "You can't not be shocked."
Three of Jacob's nine children graduated from Kushner, and several others attend school there now, including one who was in one of Slifer's science classes. Jacob appreciated that he received information about the occurrence before his children even came home from school to tell him the news.
"I have children who thought very highly of Dr. Slifer," Jacob said. "He is an incredibly charismatic person.
"I was incredibly impressed with how fast and how much information flew out of the school" in regard to the allegations and arrest, said Jacob.
One of Jacob's sons went to live in Israel after his graduation last year and has communicated via e-mail with Slifer since then. "[Slifer] wasn't his favorite [teacher], but he was well liked..., said Jacob. "Until this, he seemed to be a great role model for the kids. It's a scary thing."
"Our primary concern is the protection of our students," Berman said. "We have informed our parents and students of the events and are cooperating fully with the authorities."
School officials notified parents by e-mail and told students of Slifer's termination and the reason for it during a Feb. 11 assembly. A hard copy of the e-mail letter to parents was also mailed to their homes. Following the assembly, students were divided into small groups to help them process the information with the help of teachers. The school also consulted Jewish Family Service of MetroWest on the issue; the agency supplied the school with a hotline number for parents, teachers, and students who might welcome discussing the subject with a counselor on the telephone or meeting with someone outside the school setting.
"We have encouraged students to speak with their parents, to speak with our guidance staff and other professionals in school," Berman said. He also said school officials consistently repeated the message "that if [a student] has been involved in any way, he or she is a victim and has done nothing wrong."
Berman said school officials are trying to encourage the healing process -- helping students to develop and regain confidence in teachers, adults, and authority figures. Students were encouraged, "especially in the aftermath of this, to be on the lookout for warning signs..., anything from adults that crosses lines of professionalism" or for communications and actions that are inappropriate coming from someone much older, he added.
Berman speculated that later on, perhaps in a few weeks, the school will offer additional programs to address such issues as harassment and abuse to further help students process the unfortunate incident.
The decision to fire Slifer was not difficult, according to Berman. Teachers and others who work with children may be asked to leave because of a "moral indiscretion." Slifer was fired from his job teaching science and one math class to students in the 10th through 12th grades several days before he was arrested.
Berman said that on first hearing of the allegations, he "was sickened by the thought that any person, but in particular a teacher of students, could perpetrate such horrific acts upon children."
Slifer was hired by Kushner in the fall of 2000.
He apparently passed a screening conducted by school officials on new employees. The procedure includes investigating whether applicants have a police record and checking their references and credentials, Klein said.
"We have a very serious system in place," Klein said.
Slifer was a good student, said Peter Kasdan, rabbi emeritus of Temple Emanu-El in Livingston. Slifer grew up in Livingston and attended religious school at the synagogue through high school.
"He was a very social kid," Kasdan said. "He had a lot of friends; he was always helping people."
Now, Kasdan is amazed at what has befallen the community.
"It's very sad," Kasdan said. "It's sad for the child it happened to because it's a lifelong scarring experience, and, if the charges are true, it's sad for Paul. It's throwing a life away. It means he has deepseated problems."
After Slifer graduated, Kasdan had little contact with him. But the two spoke again when Slifer's father died. According to Kasdan, Slifer's father took his own life a few years ago.
Anne Homa of Livingston said it helps to get the school's daily e-mail on the issue. Homa, who serves on the board and executive board at Kushner, has one child who is a student in the academy's lower school and two in high school.
The information they receive, she said, helps parents deal with the loss of control they feel with regard to the circumstances, Homa said.
Several parents told NJ Jewish News of their satisfaction with Berman and the school's handling of the situation, echoing Homa's sentiments.
The students had built up trust in Slifer, said Kushner parent Jacob; when that trust was broken by Slifer, he added, it affects the trust students have in everyone.
Jacob said his children's initial reaction was almost one of denial as they felt "there's no way this can be happening," Jacob said. "They couldn't believe it was the same person" -- someone who is alleged to have preyed on a student and who was the teacher they had looked up to and confided in.
Jacob said he told his children, "It isn't the fault of the student assaulted; unfortunately there are some people who are predatory in nature, and they can act one way in one situation and very differently in another...."
Jacob said the incident illustrates to his children how important it is to be careful, but he cautioned them against letting it tarnish their relationship with other teachers.
"The hardest thing was to tell them to rebuff any outreach by Dr. Slifer and not to contact him," Jacob said. One of his children "had gotten used to talking to [Slifer]. There are a number of students he really helped through tough times. I know he did good things in the school. When kids needed someone to talk to, [Slifer] was there."
The incident has forced Jacob to rethink how he perceives people, he said.
"Many parents are so distressed and very angry; parents and students feel incredibly betrayed by this.... My kids seem to be coming out of it and...ready to move on," said Jacob. "But it's definitely had an impact on them. There is definitely a hollow space."
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Instructor named in sex suit arrested on new charge
Associated Press - March 13, 2002
NEWARK, N.J. -- A former college instructor named in a student's sexual harassment suit has been arrested in a separate case of alleged sexual assault.
Paul Slifer, who taught science at a Jewish high school in Essex County, was fired and then arrested three days later on charges he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old male student there.
Slifer also taught at Sussex County Community College, where a female student claimed in a lawsuit earlier last month that he attempted to flunk her because she rejected his advances.
Slifer is no longer employed at the Sussex two-year college, school spokeswoman Linda Nieman said.
In the lawsuit, a Sussex nursing student charged that in January 2001 Slifer sexually harassed her verbally and physically, and gave her prescription medication.
Slifer hugged and kissed her, and when she complained, he gave her a failing grade in anatomy and physiology, she claimed. After she protested to the school, the grade was changed to C-plus.
Authorities said they seized computers from Slifer's Livingston home and are investigating whether he victimized other students.
Slifer, 34, is accused of assaulting the boy over the last year and a half. He is charged with six counts of aggravated sexual assault, four counts of aggravated sexual contact and two counts of child endangerment.
He was arrested late last month and has been held at the Essex County Jail.
Rabbi Scot Berman, principal of the high school at Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston, said the school learned of the assault investigation four days later, and Slifer was immediately fired.
Berman said the school already had discussed the college student's lawsuit, which was filed Feb. 1. Slifer had denied the charges, Berman said.
Nevertheless, Berman said, "We started to gather information regarding that case. We put safeguards in our own school to ensure that his association with students would only be in the classroom and not alone with individual students."
Paul Slifer, who taught science at a Jewish high school in Essex County, was fired and then arrested three days later on charges he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old male student there.
Slifer also taught at Sussex County Community College, where a female student claimed in a lawsuit earlier last month that he attempted to flunk her because she rejected his advances.
Slifer is no longer employed at the Sussex two-year college, school spokeswoman Linda Nieman said.
In the lawsuit, a Sussex nursing student charged that in January 2001 Slifer sexually harassed her verbally and physically, and gave her prescription medication.
Slifer hugged and kissed her, and when she complained, he gave her a failing grade in anatomy and physiology, she claimed. After she protested to the school, the grade was changed to C-plus.
Authorities said they seized computers from Slifer's Livingston home and are investigating whether he victimized other students.
Slifer, 34, is accused of assaulting the boy over the last year and a half. He is charged with six counts of aggravated sexual assault, four counts of aggravated sexual contact and two counts of child endangerment.
He was arrested late last month and has been held at the Essex County Jail.
Rabbi Scot Berman, principal of the high school at Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston, said the school learned of the assault investigation four days later, and Slifer was immediately fired.
Berman said the school already had discussed the college student's lawsuit, which was filed Feb. 1. Slifer had denied the charges, Berman said.
Nevertheless, Berman said, "We started to gather information regarding that case. We put safeguards in our own school to ensure that his association with students would only be in the classroom and not alone with individual students."
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New Jersey Teacher Accused Of Sex Crimes Against Youth
By Maria Newman
New York Times - March 13, 2003
Since joining the Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, N.J., as a biology teacher in September 2000, Paul Slifer had been popular among students. They liked talking to him, in person and on the Internet, police investigators said. Some of them believed he was a doctor, the police said, and went to him for advice with problems. He offered physical exams.
Last week, the police arrested Mr. Slifer on charges of sexually touching students. Those students, three girls and a boy, all 16 years old, came forward after learning last month that Mr. Slifer had been charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old male classmate.
All told, there have been more than 20 charges filed against Mr. Slifer, among them sexual contact, aggravated sexual assault and impersonating a doctor. And police say they are continuing to talk to students.
''We want to make sure there's nothing else out there,'' said Detective Lt. Craig Handschuch of the Livingston Police Department.
Mr. Slifer, 34, of Livingston, could not be located for comment. Lieutenant Handschuch said he was free on $97,000 bail in connection with the charges last week.
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New Jersey Yeshiva Teacher Accused of Sex Crimes Against Youths
By Maria Newman
New York Times - March 13, 2002
Since joining the Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, N.J., as a biology teacher in September 2000, Paul Slifer had been popular among students. They liked talking to him, in person and on the Internet, police investigators said. Some of them believed he was a doctor, the police said, and went to him for advice with problems. He offered physical exams.
Last week, the police arrested Mr. Slifer on charges of sexually touching students. Those students, three girls and a boy, all 16 years old, came forward after learning last month that Mr. Slifer had been charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old male classmate.
All told, there have been more than 20 charges filed against Mr. Slifer, among them sexual contact, aggravated sexual assault and impersonating a doctor. And police say they are continuing to talk to students.
''We want to make sure there's nothing else out there,'' said Detective Lt. Craig Handschuch of the Livingston Police Department.
Mr. Slifer, 34, of Livingston, could not be located for comment. Lieutenant Handschuch said he was free on $97,000 bail in connection with the charges last week.
Students told investigators that Mr. Slifer's misconduct began shortly after he began teaching at the school in September 2000, the police said. The matter came to light on Feb. 9, said the school principal, Rabbi Scot A. Berman, when someone told him about the 15-year-old boy.
The rabbi contacted board members of the Hebrew Academy, which operates the high school.
''We immediately contacted the authorities,'' he said. ''That evening we terminated Paul Slifer from employment. Within 24 hours, on that Monday, we had contacted our parents, assembled our students and shared with them what had transpired and put into motion the mechanism for dealing with the emotional components of this matter for our students, teachers and parents.''
The police arrested Mr. Slifer, and school officials encouraged anyone with further information to come forward.
Lieutenant Handschuch said: ''The school has been very cooperative with us on this matter. They've been very good with the parents, not just of the victims, but all parents. We were lucky in this situation that people did forward information to us. People had enough sense to say, 'Hey, something doesn't look right here.' ''
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Kushner teacher arrested again as further allegations emerge
By Enid Weiss
New Jersey Jewish News - March 14, 2003
Additional charges have been filed against a Livingston man for allegedly molesting several students while he was a teacher at Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston.
The teacher, Paul Slifer, 34, was fired as soon as Kushner officials became aware of the situation. School officials also contacted police to begin an investigation that resulted in Slifer's arrest on Feb. 13 and again on March 6, as further allegations emerged.
On March 6, Slifer surrendered to police after five additional victims came forward, according to Livingston Police Chief Michael Erb. Slifer was charged with viewing pornographic materials on the Internet and multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contract, criminal sexual contact, and practicing medicine without a license.
Slifer had been leading the victims to believe he was a physician to gain their confidence, Erb alleged, adding that he then took advantage of them. As in most sexual-abuse cases involving minors, he said, the victims were hesitant to come forward at first but once the original allegation surfaced, the others started to report to police. The police, especially Livingston detective David Fischgrund, are still investigating whether there are additional victims and urge anyone with information to contact them or other authorities.
Victims were both males and females, according to Essex County Prosecutor's office spokesperson Charlotte Smith.
On Feb. 15, Slifer was arraigned on six counts of aggravated sexual assault, four counts of aggravated sexual contact, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, said Livingston police detective Lt. Craig Handschuch. Because the assaults began when the child was 15, the charges are more severe and are considered first-degree crimes, Handschuch said.
A first-degree charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, Smith said. A second-degree charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years. Smith could not elaborate on how many total years Slifer faces.
The second set of incidents allegedly took place over the same 18-month time period that the incidents that gave rise to the first set of charges took place, according to Erb.
Slifer had been hired to teach science to students in 10th through 12th grades in the fall of 2001. He also taught one math class.
Meanwhile, Kushner's principal Rabbi Scot Berman is concerned that the victims may be further victimized. He has called on the school community to refrain from speculating as to the identities of the victims.
"The potential harm in correctly or incorrectly identifying the individuals could have" lasting and painful effects, Berman said. "As a society of concerned, caring Jews, we need to be very careful in adhering to laws of lashon hara(hateful talk)."
Berman said Slifer also worked for a tutoring organization and had contact with non-Kushner students, thus the potential exists for yet more victims to come forward.
"At this point our students are moving on with their lives," Berman said, adding that he continues to update parents, students, and faculty members, openly and honestly addressing the issues. In one letter to the school community, he wrote that if sentenced to the maximum term, Slifer will spend the better part of the rest of his life in jail. "I think that does a lot," Berman said. "I think that makes people feel better. ... I think that helps parents and students feel more secure."
Slifer has been released on $50,000 bail on the second set of charges, according to police and prosecutor's office records.
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State of New Jersey Department of Corrections
October 19, 2013
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