Camp Counselor Seeks To Withdraw Guilty Plea In Sex Assault Case, Claiming Pressure From Orthodox Jewish Community Led To Plea

In Toms River, New Jersey yesterday, a state Superior Court judge heard testimony in connection with the motion by former Orthodox Jewish camp counselor Yosef Kolko to withdraw his guilty plea to charges of sexual assault against a boy when the boy was 11 and 12 years old.  According to the Asbury Park Press, Kolko claims he was the target of a campaign in the Lakewood (NJ) Orthodox Jewish community to pressure him to plead guilty in order to avoid the negative publicity for the community that would come with a trial. Witnesses for Kolko say the campaign involved a combination of vivid descriptions of what prison would be like, and an offer of $100,000 and a job when he got out of jail if he plead guilty. Kolko steadfastly maintained his innocence until he decided to plead guilty while the trial was under way.