Bergen County High Court Judge Christopher Kazrau ruled that Shalom Yehudiel, 41, was violated by the FBI because federal authorities failed to hand over the video.
A judge prejudgedly dismissed the charges on Monday, August 7. This allowed prosecutors to reopen the case if new evidence came to light.
“Sal” Yehudiel, a longtime hero of the Jewish community in North Jersey, became the first contestant to follow the kosher diet on the Food Network series “Chopped.”
He owned and operated The Humble Toast, a popular kosher restaurant on Queen Anne Road, for several years before adding a second restaurant, La Cucina Di Nava.
The Israeli-American entrepreneur has garnered accolades for giving back to his community, among other philanthropic efforts, by donating food to local soup kitchens, and even during the COVID-19 pandemic. He even posted his phone number on social media for people in need of hot meals. Please call him directly.
Subsequently, two cases were filed in the Hackensack Superior Court.
In one, a woman who worked at Humble Toast accused Eudiel of making obscene comments in her office and coercing her to perform oral sex when she was 17.
A second woman said she was groped and forcibly kissed by a man as part of a two-year string of assaults since she met him at Fair Lawn Abbey when she was 15.
At the time, Judiel’s lawyers called the lawsuit “false and frivolous,” characterized it as an act of blackmail that was “completely unfounded and defamatory in nature” and part of a campaign of “hate, bigotry and discrimination.” added.
Demonstrators flocked to his deli in late 2021 as rumors of the lawsuit spread. Efdiel denied the charges in a counterclaim against the women.
The Bergen County Rabbi Council soon announced that Efdiel would be withdrawing from both restaurants “until this issue is resolved.”
He eventually sold both eateries in September 2022.
Six months ago, Judiel was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a victim aged 13 to 16, sexual assault of a victim aged 16 to 17, and child endangerment.
County officials said at the time that the charges were made following a referral from the FBI.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said in a statement:
”On Friday, November 19, 2021, the FBI contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged child sexual assault. A months-long investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI revealed that Efdiel had multiple times sexually assaulted a child under the age of 16 in Teaneck.
“Following an investigation, Efdiel was arrested in Newark on Wednesday, March 16.” [2022]and was charged with various sexual assault offences.. ”
Ehudiel spent a week in Bergen county jail before being released awaiting trial.
The trial ended on Monday 7 August at the same courthouse in Hackensack.
Judge Kazlau ruled that the prosecution wrongfully obtained a grand jury indictment by omitting certain evidence.
In other words, Kazlau said he provided two video clips obtained by the FBI, rather than a comprehensive file of the alleged victim’s entire time working at the restaurant.
She claimed the sexual contact began on the third day of work.
The judge stressed that the footage was provided by the FBI and was not the responsibility of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
Kazlau said the prosecution actually shared the defense’s desire to see the entire video. This is because neither party knows the content of the video.
The judge said it doesn’t matter if the full video shows Judiel’s involvement or his innocence. That suspension violated Udiel’s due process rights, he said.
It remains to be seen whether the FBI will hand over the video and, if so, whether its content will prompt prosecutors to re-prosecute or drop the case.
Prosecutor Musela did not comment on the decision. Judiel hasn’t spoken publicly about it either.
Attorneys Lee Vartan and Zak Intraiter issued a statement on behalf of Mr Shalom, saying, “We are satisfied with the court’s decision to justify Mr Shalom’s due process rights, and we believe that the court will continue to support us.” We appreciate your careful consideration and acceptance of our allegations.”
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