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Friday, May 21, 2010

Jesus, What Is It With Theater Companies and Child Molesters?

Posted by on Fri, May 21, 2010 at 10:18 AM

First there was Benjamin D. Keylin, executor director of Mercer Island's Youth Theater Northwest, who had sex with teenage girls.

Then there was William A. Hoke, an IT guy at the Seattle Children's Theater, who kept an enormous collection of kiddie porn.

Now it's Michael Gershowitz, the head honcho of Michael Gershowitz Productions, accused of being an absolute creepshow: sexually assaulting a kid at a bus stop, following him around Bellevue, and having a stash of child porn—that he may have made—inside his car. From the PI:

Per the boy's account, he was waiting at the stop for a bus back to Seattle when Gershowitz approached him. Both realized no bus was coming and Gershowitz began touching the boy, attempting to reach down his pants.

The boy began walking away, followed by Gershowitz to a convenience store, the detective told the court. The teen attempted to speak to a cab driver before Gershowitz returned with soda and candy, but the driver left before he had a chance.

According to the report, the boy said he convinced Gershowitz to walk to the freeway because he knew the police would come if they were seen there.

In the car, the boy told police, Gershowitz handed him a business card with his phone number and e-mail, asking that he e-mail him "so he could put (him) in one of his movies."

"He stated he was so upset he wanted to physically hurt Gershowitz but didn't want to get in trouble," Moate said in court documents, recalling the boy's statements to the trooper. "He knew telling the officer was the right thing to do."

Ugh. But good on the kid for figuring out how to find a cop in a terrible situation.

I've never heard of this Gershowitz character and his Facebook page only says he wants to take new musicals to Broadway. But it looks like the man has a Wizard of Oz fetish—he acted in an Oz adaptation (with El Vez) called Viva Oz Vegas, won an award for a musical adaptation of the novel in 2002, and produced that musical (or another Oz musical) the Market Theater last year.

This post has been updated.

 

Comments (20) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
It's simple:
homosexuals, who are disproportionately child molesters, are also disproportionately in the theatre business....
Posted by thanks for asking on May 21, 2010 at 10:37 AM
2
No great mystery, child molesters look for places to work and volunteer where they can be around and develop trusted relationships with children. It's the same reason you can do daily Youth Pastor Watch updates. I have to admit I always start with a suspicious eye toward male coaches and activity leaders when my kids join a new sports team, summer camp or music class. I wish I could be more trusting, but...
Posted by Transpo guy on May 21, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Karlheinz Arschbomber 3
Just plain creepy. It's not like these are Republican senators from Southern states, or something...
Posted by Karlheinz Arschbomber http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arschbombe on May 21, 2010 at 10:57 AM
venomlash 4
@1: Cite your sources for your assertion that "homosexuals...are disproportionately child molesters".
And no, a hideous beast summoned from Sheol does not count as a source, and neither does a demonic servant of Asmodeus.
Posted by venomlash on May 21, 2010 at 11:06 AM
5
42% of 'Youth Pastor Watch' molesters are homosexuals abusing teenage boys, compared to their 2.8% proportion of the general population.
Disproportionate.

(sorry, never met your mom aka the hideous demonic servant of Asmodeusbeast summoned from Sheol.)
Posted by eyesandears on May 21, 2010 at 11:35 AM
6
@5 Here's the problem with that statement: homosexuals are men who are attracted to men. There is nothing that says this man is attracted to men. In fact, it would appear he is attracted to little boys, making him a pedophile.

Also, I'm betting more than 42% of trolls who post homophobic comments on a sometimes gay-themed blog are likely to really want someone to help them lift their luggage. Maybe you should get yourself some therapy and work through your issues.
Posted by Frank Rizzo on May 21, 2010 at 11:55 AM
playswithknives 7
Theater people are weird. I have two of them living in my house. I know this first hand.
Posted by playswithknives on May 21, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Mittens Schrodinger 8
@playswithknives--Theater people ARE weird! Thank god I'm not one any more. Now I spend my days in the totally normal company of research scientists.
Posted by Mittens Schrodinger on May 21, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Fistique 9
I take it no one's been watching Andrew Lloyd Weber's horrifying Over The Rainbow?
Posted by Fistique on May 21, 2010 at 12:33 PM
COMTE 10
Yes, theatre people are weird. But, like the rest of the world, their weirdness is generally harmless. And I love 'em to death - in a purely platonic, non-creepy way, naturally.

And before the folk start sharpening their pitchforks and lighting their torches, let's keep this in perspective: I would estimate there are roughly 6,000 people in the Greater Puget Sound area who engage in theatrical-related activities, whether as a full-time profession, or simply as an avocation (and that's probably a somewhat conservative estimate). So, really 3 out of 6,000 is probably statistically in line with the occurrence of child-molestation within the general population.

(None of which should be construed as an endorsement of child-molestation on my part, because - ewwww!)
Posted by COMTE http://www.chriscomte.com on May 21, 2010 at 12:57 PM
11
Smart kid! I never would have thought of that but it would work for anyone being followed/harassed.

I love theater people (excepting those cited here of course) but RESEARCH SCIENTISTS - now there is a weird bunch.
Posted by Katy http://www.whateverkaty.blogspot.com on May 21, 2010 at 4:33 PM
12
6
Homosexuals are men who are attracted to males.
And 16 year old males, your typical Youth Pastor target, are not children.
Sorry the topic is so touchy for you...
Posted by a sometimes gay-themed blog on May 21, 2010 at 8:28 PM
13
#12 - you are right that someone who goes after a teenager is not a pedophile in the literal meaning of the word, because 'pedo' generally refers to pre-pubescent. that said, that doesnt mean the individual is necessarily attracted to men either, because most sexual assaults have absolutely zero to do with sexuality, they're about power.
Posted by KatTheCanuckistan http://soundmusing.blogspot.com/ on May 21, 2010 at 9:31 PM
venomlash 14
@12: Does the bastard get off from having sex with other males? Highly doubtful. Does the bastard get off from groping children? Certainly seems that way. It's as plain as the nose on your face, assuming you haven't suffered a disfiguring injury.
But by your logic, that one mechanophile woman who considers herself married to the Eiffel Tower is just a heterosexual, considering the Tower's phallic shape. HERPA DERPA DOO to you, Alleged.
Posted by venomlash on May 22, 2010 at 1:45 AM
15
Hmm, a long time ago, there used to be a man who called Amazon customer service and asked the phone reps to laugh like the Wicked Witch (after first going through a whole script - "Do you like the Wizard of Oz? Who is your favorite character? Do you like the witch?") We called him The Giggler. I have to wonder.
Posted by no_oz on March 21, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Kinison 16
Yeah, a year later, the guy admits he did touch the boy and will avoid a prison sentance by pleading guilty. You might want to post an update, I was suprised this was even mentioned as the stranger seems to have a hard on for religious, political or sports athletes who get busted in a sex scandal.
Posted by Kinison http://www.holgatehawks.com on March 21, 2011 at 12:57 PM
17
Oh my God, I hadn't thought about the Giggler for years! Thanks for the blast from the past.
Posted by Stardog on March 22, 2011 at 6:10 PM
18
Lets get the facts straight. Michael Gershowitz only touched the teenager on the shoulders and his plea was no contest.
Its amazing how the Stranger only posts one side of the story.
Posted by Seattle San on April 21, 2011 at 1:09 AM
19
Good Samaritans finish Last under Seattle Police
by Charlette Report

You may have seen Michael Gershowitz around Seattle. A short 4’8” friendly guy active in theater and always one with a kind word. You may have also seen Michael around Pike Place market handing out advertisements. Michael is hard to miss and once you meet him not likely to forget him.

But things changed when he helped a teenager stuck at a bus stop at 3am in the morning. He was charged for communicating with a minor and in the end he admits he now has a hard time trusting anyone.

I interviewed Michael recently. Apparently this teenager which Michael thought looked college aged and helped was 14 years of age. Michael likely thought he was older as the teenager was drunk or high on something, wearing baggy pants and a backward cap. The teenager drop kicked and shattered a schedule sign (Metro property damage are you taking note?) upon hearing the next bus wasn’t until 5am.
The only person that bothered to console him was Michael – all the other people (and hence witnesses) scattered and left the area. Who wants to be near a loud ranting hooded teenager anyway that’s busting signage?

Well, only one person had the guts to walk up to the teenager who was a whole foot taller than he was and sit him down on the curb to calm him down. That person was Michael. The teenager had been bent over, staggering and shaking and was obviously distraught and Michael put his hands on his shoulders and for that he was charged with “communication with a minor for immoral purposes”. Yup, helping a disturbed teenager can get you charged.

Apparently this teenager who was obviously streetwise later complained to some officers who eventually saw them and drove them home stated that Michael was too friendly towards him having put his hands on his shoulders.
These may have been the same officers the teenager was shouting out earlier that night with the comments of “pigs, here piggy piggy!

Perhaps the teenager was embarrassed to be seen out so late with a short guy and wanted to sidetrack the officers from looking up his background of breaking and entering, and using drugs. Perhaps he forgot how he followed Michael to a convenience store where Michael shared a candy bar with him after he told Michael “I need something to bring me down.” Perhaps the teenager wanted to avert attention from the bite on his arm from his girlfriend and the trouble he would be in with his mother who said she would send him to boot camp if he got in trouble again. So the teenager had the officers drop him off unknowingly at someone else’s house and not his mother’s. The teenager lied about where he lived, and said he was angry for Michael giving him a business card in the police cruiser so the officers believed him and they didn’t believe Michael.

Michael was taken in and put through the wringer by the Seattle Police and prosecutors did everything they could to charge him with something, anything. After all putting your hands on the shoulder of a distraught youth shaking on drugs is a crime right? Stunned and amazed Michael didn’t know what the fuss was and when they took his laptop (which it was learned later they didn’t have a search warrant for the hard drive) the hearings went on for over a year and even though not one item from his computer was able to be submitted as evidence, prosecutors stubbornly refused to drop the case. This wasn’t justice now, it was ego on the part of the Seattle Police and the prosecutor. How dare people help teenagers! How horrible was it for Michael to give someone his business card!

No Justice
Finally there was no evidence and nothing seemed to be pre-meditated and the judge could have thrown this case out – should have thrown this case out but well…she didn’t. Prosecutors didn’t want to lose this case and lose face after they spent so much time searching Michael’s computer. Even the FBI said there was nothing in the computer but still the prosecutors didn’t drop their charges. Michael felt he had no choice and eventually took an “Alford Plea” (a no contest plea) on his lawyer’s advice. It was a no win situation. By that time the newspapers had already taken up the lynching on the internet and continued with the allegations tarnishing whatever chances Michael had for continuing his theater activities and securing jobs. It doesn’t matter if you’re found innocent, or if charges are dropped because honest and fair newspaper “journalists” don’t follow up, post updates or retractions in a fair and just manner. Allegations apparently are good enough to make copy from a police blotter and hence ruin lives forever.

Taking on a Rachael’s Challenge of goodwill

Michael found himself in a precarious fateful situation that night. Stuck at a bus station with no apparent place to go along with another person. He wasn’t going to ignore or leave the teenager and he said having lived in New York, “You help people, you don’t walk away”. “I am not a douche”.
I know, I’ve been at a bus station myself alone and a feeling like a desperate twilight zone sinks in standing around in a dark bus terminal when you don’t have a cell phone and no change on hand for the payphone.

It’s been those times I wished a person would have offered some kind of assistance and so it amazed me when newspaper writers scan police reports without discernment or fairness regurgitating allegations and painting Michael as a public menace. It makes it embarrassing at times to write for newspapers.
Frankly, I hope people continue to help others and I hope Seattle prosecutors stop their bullying and get – a – life!! and stop wasting tax-payer’s money!!

I don’t know how Michael will fare in the future. He is hurt, wary of people and trying to go on with the rest of his life …but now you know the rest of the story.
More...
Posted by totomike on April 21, 2011 at 3:32 AM
20
Good Samaritans finish Last under Seattle Police
by Charlette Report

You may have seen Michael Gershowitz around Seattle. A short 4’8” friendly guy active in theater and always one with a kind word. You may have also seen Michael around Pike Place market handing out advertisements. Michael is hard to miss and once you meet him not likely to forget him.

But things changed when he helped a teenager stuck at a bus stop at 3am in the morning. He was charged for communicating with a minor and in the end he admits he now has a hard time trusting anyone.

I interviewed Michael recently. Apparently this teenager which Michael thought looked college aged and helped was 14 years of age. Michael likely thought he was older as the teenager was drunk or high on something, wearing baggy pants and a backward cap. The teenager drop kicked and shattered a schedule sign (Metro property damage are you taking note?) upon hearing the next bus wasn’t until 5am.
The only person that bothered to console him was Michael – all the other people (and hence witnesses) scattered and left the area. Who wants to be near a loud ranting hooded teenager anyway that’s busting signage?

Well, only one person had the guts to walk up to the teenager who was a whole foot taller than he was and sit him down on the curb to calm him down. That person was Michael. The teenager had been bent over, staggering and shaking and was obviously distraught and Michael put his hands on his shoulders and for that he was charged with “communication with a minor for immoral purposes”. Yup, helping a disturbed teenager can get you charged.

Apparently this teenager who was obviously streetwise later complained to some officers who eventually saw them and drove them home stated that Michael was too friendly towards him having put his hands on his shoulders.
These may have been the same officers the teenager was shouting out earlier that night with the comments of “pigs, here piggy piggy!

Perhaps the teenager was embarrassed to be seen out so late with a short guy and wanted to sidetrack the officers from looking up his background of breaking and entering, and using drugs. Perhaps he forgot how he followed Michael to a convenience store where Michael shared a candy bar with him after he told Michael “I need something to bring me down.” Perhaps the teenager wanted to avert attention from the bite on his arm from his girlfriend and the trouble he would be in with his mother who said she would send him to boot camp if he got in trouble again. So the teenager had the officers drop him off unknowingly at someone else’s house and not his mother’s. The teenager lied about where he lived, and said he was angry for Michael giving him a business card in the police cruiser so the officers believed him and they didn’t believe Michael.

Michael was taken in and put through the wringer by the Seattle Police and prosecutors did everything they could to charge him with something, anything. After all putting your hands on the shoulder of a distraught youth shaking on drugs is a crime right? Stunned and amazed Michael didn’t know what the fuss was and when they took his laptop (which it was learned later they didn’t have a search warrant for the hard drive) the hearings went on for over a year and even though not one item from his computer was able to be submitted as evidence, prosecutors stubbornly refused to drop the case. This wasn’t justice now, it was ego on the part of the Seattle Police and the prosecutor. How dare people help teenagers! How horrible was it for Michael to give someone his business card!

No Justice
Finally there was no evidence and nothing seemed to be pre-meditated and the judge could have thrown this case out – should have thrown this case out but well…she didn’t. Prosecutors didn’t want to lose this case and lose face after they spent so much time searching Michael’s computer. Even the FBI said there was nothing in the computer but still the prosecutors didn’t drop their charges. Michael felt he had no choice and eventually took an “Alford Plea” (a no contest plea) on his lawyer’s advice. It was a no win situation. By that time the newspapers had already taken up the lynching on the internet and continued with the allegations tarnishing whatever chances Michael had for continuing his theater activities and securing jobs. It doesn’t matter if you’re found innocent, or if charges are dropped because honest and fair newspaper “journalists” don’t follow up, post updates or retractions in a fair and just manner. Allegations apparently are good enough to make copy from a police blotter and hence ruin lives forever.

Taking on a Rachael’s Challenge of goodwill

Michael found himself in a precarious fateful situation that night. Stuck at a bus station with no apparent place to go along with another person. He wasn’t going to ignore or leave the teenager and he said having lived in New York, “You help people, you don’t walk away”. “I am not a douche”.
I know, I’ve been at a bus station myself alone and a feeling like a desperate twilight zone sinks in standing around in a dark bus terminal when you don’t have a cell phone and no change on hand for the payphone.

It’s been those times I wished a person would have offered some kind of assistance and so it amazed me when newspaper writers scan police reports without discernment or fairness regurgitating allegations and painting Michael as a public menace. It makes it embarrassing at times to write for newspapers.
Frankly, I hope people continue to help others and I hope Seattle prosecutors stop their bullying and get – a – life!! and stop wasting tax-payer’s money!!

I don’t know how Michael will fare in the future. He is hurt, wary of people and trying to go on with the rest of his life …but now you know the rest of the story.
More...
Posted by totomike on April 21, 2011 at 3:38 AM

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