Felony sex charges against Germantown man reduced

Updated (9:47 a.m.) --- Felony sex abuse charges against a Germantown man were reduced to misdemeanors Friday during a preliminary hearing in Montgomery County District Court.

Michel Rosenzweig, 52, of 12800 block of Sage Terrace, now faces four counts of fourth-degree sexual abuse charges for abusing a 10-year-old boy at a community pool in 2003.

 “We have entered a plea of not guilty,” Steven D. Kupferberg, Rosenzweig’s attorney, said Friday.

Rosenzweig had been charged with five counts of third-degree sexual abuse, a felony charge that carries a 10-year jail sentence. According to state law, a third-degree sexual offense involves sexual contact without the consent of the victim and an aggravating factor such as causing or putting in fear of serious physical injury.

While a fourth-degree sexual offense also involves sexual contact without consent of victim, it is not considered a sexually violent offense according to Maryland law. Penalties for fourth-degree sexual offenses range from a $1,000 fine to 1 to 3 years in jail.

Those found guilty of a fourth-degree sex offense still must register as sex offenders, said Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office spokesman Seth Zucker.

 The alleged victim, who is now 18, said he was 10 when the incident occurred, according to documents filed in Montgomery County District Court. He was a regular swimmer at the pool at 11521 Doxdam Terrace in Germantown. He told police that Rosenzweig touched him inappropriately in the shower five times between June and July 2003, according to records filed in court.

The man came forward in March, after seeing Rosenzweig and obtaining the license number of the car he was driving. Rosenzweig was charged March 30 and released from custody April 5, after posting a $30,000 bond.

Rosenzweig is scheduled to appear in court June 10.