Beit Shemesh Man Indicted for Sex Offenses Against Minors

A 33-year-old resident of Beit Shemesh, Yechiel Yehoshua Brand, was indicted Tuesday at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on charges of committing sex offenses against four minors aged 13 to 16. The alleged incidents occurred in a mikveh, synagogues, and a public place within the city between 2024 and 2026.

According to the indictment, Brand exploited opportunities when the minors were in the mikveh and synagogues to commit indecent acts. In one instance during prayers at a Beit Shemesh synagogue, Brand allegedly pressed himself against a minor and touched his genitals multiple times while the minor was praying. Despite the minor's attempts to stop him, Brand continued the assault. He allegedly followed the minor to another prayer location and touched him again.

Further details in the indictment describe Brand committing indecent acts against minors in a local mikveh. In one case, he touched a minor's genitals as the minor exited the immersion pool. In another, he touched a minor's buttocks twice in a changing area. The indictment also states that Brand committed indecent acts against another minor in a mikveh and a supermarket.

Brand faces charges including indecent acts, indecent acts against a minor under 14, and attempted indecent acts. The investigation was conducted by the Israel Police Beit Shemesh station.