Niagara Reporter
In an unusual turn of events, the charges against Leor Kweller, a former teacher, were dismissed before trial, and the prosecution’s attempt to appeal the decision has ended. The dismissal marks a significant victory for Kweller and his family, who have been fighting to clear his name and restore his reputation.
Leor Kweller, along with his brother Yaron Kweller and their co-defendant Jordan Ringden, faced serious accusations stemming from a November 2021 sexual abuse accusation involving The Colonial and Dos Rios restaurants in downtown Binghamton. The charges had a devastating impact on all of their lives. Yaron and Ringden’s businesses were impacted and their reputations sullied. Leor’s life was deeply effected as well. He lost his teaching position at a Brooklyn Hebrew school, and was later rejected for a job with the Board of Education due to the allegations. When he applies for teaching jobs, the agencies often search the applicant and the news of his arrest and indictment become the top search items.
However, in a surprising twist, and one that had not received as much attention, the case against Leor was dismissed before it could go to trial. His attorneys successfully argued that there was no evidence to support the charges. The Broome County District Attorney’s Office, led by Michael Korchak, who was running for reelection at the time and subsequently lost, attempted to appeal the dismissal, but the Appellate Division of New York State courts upheld the decision, affirming Leor’s innocence.
Then, the trial of Yaron Kweller and Jordan Ringden revealed even more shocking details. After just two hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted them. It was revealed that the prosecutor had concealed exculpatory evidence showing that the women had colluded to extort the accused for money and luxury goods. Dramatic courtroom moments included testimony where one of the accusers admitted that the prosecutor had instructed her to delete incriminating texts and social media posts, and plainly pointed to the prosecutor when asked who instructed them to do so.
The case of People v. Leor Kweller (CR-23-1517) concluded on May 30, 2023, when the New York State Supreme Court dismissed the charges. The subsequent appeal by the prosecution, initiated in June 2023, was denied and ended on April 1, 2024. Leor and his family no longer live under the threat of wrongful prosecution.
Leor Kweller, born in Queens and a resident of Flatbush, expresses immense relief and gratitude that the ordeal has ended. However, he acknowledges that the journey to fully restore his rights and reputation is far from over. The wrongful prosecution has caused significant harm, including job loss, damage to his reputation, and emotional and financial strain.
In his quest for justice, the Kwellers and Ringden are now suing, and have filed claims against Broome County and the City of Binghamton for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution. They hope that their experience will bring about real change to prevent future miscarriages of justice.
Leor’s story highlights the broader issues within the religious Jewish community regarding false accusations and the severe consequences they can have on individuals and their families. A victim’s rights group within the Jewish community was quick to post his name and face all over social media pages when the charges were first made public, and had never retracted it, much less posted an update about the dismissal and the failure of the prosecutor’s appeal.
As the legal battles continue, Leor remains determined to rebuild his life and advocate for a system that better protects the innocent.
