Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of child abuse and child pornography. Reader discretion is advised.
In 1987, the allegations of child abuse against Arnold and Jesse Friedman became sensational news. As per reports, authorities began the investigation after customs agents seized a package containing suspicious material that was addressed to Arnold Friedman. As a result, police raided the Friedman house and found evidence against the father and son duo. The entire case has been the subject of the 2003 HBO documentary Capturing The Friedmans, which depicts what happened with the two convicts.
According to The New York Times, after the customs agents discovered child pornography in the package, the investigators raided the Friedman house and collected 20 magazines with similar content. The outlet also mentioned that the authorities issued a search warrant and sought more evidence. During the search, they also found a list of 81 students enrolled in computer classes. As per CBS News, Arnold taught computer classes at home.
After questioning several students, authorities indicted Arnold and Jesse Friedman on 54 counts of sexual abuse. The New York Times reported that Arnold Friedman pleaded guilty while Jesse maintained innocence for almost a year. However, in 1988, he pleaded guilty to 25 counts of abuse. Shockingly, in 2013, a New York Daily News report revealed that Jesse Friedman pleaded guilty to the charges after a judge told him to plead guilty.
The outlet also claimed that the judge “threatened” him by saying that he would be sent to prison for life if he didn’t plead guilty. Although authorities have refuted these claims, Jesse Friedman pleaded guilty to the charges in 1988. The court sentenced him to 6 to 18 years in prison. On the other hand, the court also sent Arnold Friedman to prison, per The New York Times.
The Friedmans’ abuse case explored
When police initiated an investigation in 1987 and found credible evidence, they started talking to the students mentioned in the list. The New York Times revealed that 17 students eventually testified against Arnold Friedman and Jesse Friedman. They testified in front of the grand jury and noted the kind of abuse they endured.
One of the students noted that children were reportedly sodomized in a “game of naked leapfrog.” On the other hand, a child claimed that he was forced to sodomize Jesse Friedman and one of Jesse’s friends. Subsequently, the court sent both members of the Friedman family to jail. Over the years, several irregularities have been discovered in the investigation. In June 2013, a man wrote a letter to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.
Was Jesse Friedman wrongfully convicted?
Citing the letter, The New York Times mentioned that the person who wrote the letter was one of the children who played a role in sending Jesse and Arnold Friedman to prison. In the letter, he wrote, “I write to inform you that none of the events allegedly described by or attributed to Kenneth Doe ever took place.” He also noted that Arnold and Jesse never sodomized her or touched him inappropriately.
The person accused the investigators of “repeatedly” visiting his house and not leaving until they heard what they wanted to. He ended his letter by saying, “As a result, I guess I just folded so they would leave me alone.” Since then, many people involved in the case have distanced themselves from the allegations attributed to them in the case.
As per The New York Times, the Second Circuit noted that there is “a reasonable likelihood” that the authorities wrongfully convicted Jesse Friedman.
