Case of Cantor Howard Nevison (Manhattan, NY)

The following message comes from: The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter

When the case of Cantor Howard Nevison first broke, it made international headline news. This was back in 2002. The problem is that this is an on going case that appears the Jewish news media has been ignoring. The case is still in the court system.

The Awareness Center believes it is a case that needs to have media attention. If you agree, please contact Gary Rosenblatt at The New York Jewish Week and ask them to continue to follow the story.

You can also ask your local paper to follow up on the story too.

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Here's an article from April 29, 2005

August trial set for ex-cantor accused of molesting nephew
A pretrial hearing was set for July 1. The man is charged with abusing the boy during visits with relatives in Lower Merion.
By Keith Herbert
Philadelphia Inquirer - April 29, 2005


Former New York City cantor Howard Nevison will go to trial on child-molestation charges Aug. 19 in Montgomery County.

Nevison, 64, was in Montgomery County Court yesterday with his attorney when Judge Paul W. Tressler set the trial date. Tressler also scheduled a pretrial hearing for July 1.

A gag order had been imposed on the lawyers in the case. Nevison's attorney, Ralph A. Jacobs, and First Assistant District Attorney Risa V. Ferman declined to comment.

Nevison is charged with molesting his nephew between 1993 and 1998, when the boy was 3 to 7 years old. The alleged abuse occurred during holidays and family gatherings when Nevison visited relatives in Lower Merion.

The alleged crime came to light in October 1998, when the victim's mother told police that her son had been sexually assaulted by his two uncles and a cousin.

Prosecutors said that members of the family claimed previous abuse: Nevison's two brothers, one of whom is the alleged victim's father, told them that Nevison molested them 40 years ago.

In an earlier ruling, Tressler allowed prosecutors to introduce testimony from the brothers as evidence showing a "common scheme, plan or design" to the molestation allegations.

But Nevison's lawyers appealed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court. A three-judge panel overruled Tressler and barred the brothers' testimony. The panel found the brothers' allegations too old and not specific enough to identify a "signature" crime.

The two family members who were also identified by the victim's mother have already pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Lawrence Nevison, the boy's uncle, is serving a 5- to 15-year sentence. The victim's cousin, Stewart Nevison, served 11 months in prison and was paroled, according to court records.

In 2003, Nevison was put on leave from Temple Emanu-El, on East 65th Street in Manhattan. Nevison led prayers and sang at the congregation for 23 years.

Contact staff writer Keith Herbert at 610-313-8007