N.J. Child Therapist Sexually Exploited Children In 'Worst Way Imaginable,' U.S. Attorney Says

A N.J. child therapist was charged this week with three counts stemming from his sexual exploitation and enticement of a minor and his receipt of child pornography, according to federal authorities.

Elliot Halberstam, 38, was charged with violating the trust of his former patient, a 16-year old boy, in the “worst way imaginable,” allegedly coercing and tricking the victim into engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and captured it on video and in photographs, said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

“Together with our partners at the FBI, we are dedicated to ensuring that those who sexually exploit children are held to account,” he said in a release.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriquez charged that Halberstam violated the trust of a minor who was a former patient of his in counseling, by coercing the victim to engage in sexual activity with him and film it.

The entire complaint can be found here - viewer discretion advised: Download U.S. v Halberstam Complaint.

According to the complaint:

Beginning in March, the Bergen therapist coerced and enticed a 16- year-old boy who was a former patient of his - called “Victim-1” - to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction, and received images and videos constituting child pornography from Victim-1.

To do so, Halberstam groomed Victim-1 through numerous email and text messages by posing as another individual to entice, according to the release.

Halberstam is charged with one count of coercing and enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; and one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.