A woman and her partner were indicted on Wednesday in an exceptionally severe child sexual abuse case involving her two daughters and two infant relatives, the State Attorney’s Office announced.
The woman, 33, and the man, 43, both from central Israel, are accused of numerous sexual offenses against the four children. The woman’s daughters were between eight and 12-years-old at the time of the alleged offenses, while the other two children were between approximately one and three.
The Central District Attorney’s Office filed the indictment with the Central District Court in Lod and asked that both defendants remain in custody throughout the proceedings.
Woman, partner, exchanged child sexual abuse material
According to the indictment, the defendants met through a dating application about a year and a half ago and began an intimate relationship. Prosecutors alleged that they exchanged child sexual abuse material and discussed sexual fantasies involving the woman’s daughters.
The indictment alleges that the woman, either at her own initiative or at the man’s request, repeatedly photographed, filmed and recorded her daughters in intimate situations, including while partially dressed or naked, and sent the material to him.
Prosecutors said the man praised the material, used it for sexual gratification and encouraged the woman to continue producing it.
The indictment further alleges that, during two meetings at the woman’s home, the defendants engaged in sexual activity while one or both daughters were asleep in the room. On another occasion, prosecutors said, the man committed indecent acts against the girls while visiting the woman and her daughters during a vacation.
The most serious allegations concern two very young members of the woman’s family. Prosecutors allege that the woman sexually assaulted both children, filmed the acts at the man’s request and sent him the recordings immediately afterward.
The indictment portrays the abuse as part of an effort by the woman to satisfy the man’s sexual demands and preserve their relationship. Prosecutors stressed that this remains their allegation and has not yet been tested in court.
Defendants accused of attempting to conceal evidence
The defendants are also accused of attempting to conceal evidence. Shortly after she was questioned, the woman allegedly deleted their correspondence from her cellphone with the intention of obstructing the investigation. Investigators later recovered the messages, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors said the defendants had also routinely deleted parts of their correspondence and that the man repeatedly urged the woman to erase the photographs and videos documenting the alleged abuse.
The charges include rape of a minor family member, soliciting the rape of a minor family member, committing indecent acts against children, using children to produce sexual abuse material, publishing and possessing such material, and obstructing justice. Each defendant was charged according to their alleged role.
In its request to keep the pair in custody, the prosecution said the alleged offenses were systematic and prolonged and involved extremely young and vulnerable children. The nature of the acts demonstrated that both defendants posed a serious danger to the public, prosecutors argued.
