Ohio Rabbi With Long Island Ties Charged With Sexually Abusing Minor

By Elizabeth Janney (Patch Staff)

An Ohio rabbi who grew up on Long Island has been charged with sex offenses involving a Maryland minor, police said Thursday.

Frederick Martin Karp, 50, of Beachwood, Ohio, is accused of sexually abusing a girl living in Baltimore County, police said in a statement.

Baltimore County police learned on Dec. 31 that the girl had been sexually abused ”over a period of time” by Karp, who is a rabbi in Ohio, the statement said.

Last week, Baltimore County detectives went to Ohio to interview Karp and later obtained a warrant for his arrest; but when they returned to serve it, he was gone, police said.

The day Baltimore County police were attempting to find Karp, he was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport by New York Transit Authority Police who were aware of the warrant, according to Fox 8, the local affiliate in Cleveland.

Karp is charged with sexual abuse of a minor (continuing course of conduct), perverted practice, second-degree sex offense and third-degree sex offense, according to police. Maryland law defines a “continuing course of conduct” as at least three rape acts within a 90-day period involving a juvenile under 14 years old.

While Baltimore County police would not disclose specifics, the department said in a statement: “The investigation so far has not indicated that there were any incidents of abuse at a Baltimore area Jewish facility.”

Karp is the president of the Association of Jewish Chaplains and director of spiritual living at Menorah Park for Senior Living in Beachwood, Ohio, according to Fox 8.

A spokesperson for Menorah Park told the Baltimore Jewish Times that Karp was at the airport last week on his way to the Association of Jewish Chaplains’ annual conferencein Israel. That conference starts Monday, Jan. 26.

Karp was arrested at 9:25 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, at JFK as a fugitive of justice, according to the Baltimore Jewish Times.

He was awaiting extradition to Maryland as of Thursday, Jan. 22, Baltimore County police said in a statement.

The Baltimore County Police Department Crimes Against Children Unit is continuing to investigate, police said.

Before coming to Ohio, Karp worked as community chaplain for the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County in New Jersey, according to the Baltimore Jewish Times.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Karp worked as pastoral associate at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack from 1989-2001.

Photo: Screenshot from Fox 8 YouTube video of Rabbi Frederick Karp auditioning for “Cleveland’s Funniest Rabbi.”

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