Ramapo man lured boy with candy: Cops

WESLEY HILLS – A 25-year-old man is accused of attempted sexual abuse after he allegedly used candy to lure a 6-year-old boy into a room inside a synagogue last week, Ramapo police said.

Abraham Widenbaum, a resident of a group home for the developmentally disabled on Hillside Terrace, faces felony charges of first-degree attempted sexual abuse and luring a child, as well as a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

The boy was in his front yard at 6:28 p.m. Wednesday when Widenbaum is accused of offering him a box of candy to come with him, Sgt. Brian Corbett said.

Widenbaum walked the boy to a synagogue on Harriet Lane, Corbett said, and took him into a vacant room.

Police didn't detail what happened inside the room, but Corbett said Widenbaum asked the child to bring a friend back to the synagogue.

The boy left and told his father about what happened, Corbett said.

Police located Widenbaum walking along East Willow Tree Road at 5:50 p.m. Friday.

Widenbaum was arraigned in Wesley Hills Village Court on Friday, and he was remanded to the Rockland County jail in New City on $75,000 bail.

He is due back in court Tuesday.

The group home is run by Yedei Chesed, which provides services to people with developmental disabilities.

It is an affiliate of Bikur Cholim of Rockland County, which provides health-related services.

A message was left for Yedei Chesed officials seeking comment.