EAST LANSING — A synagogue leader has been fired from his leadership role after he was arraigned Monday on three felony charges stemming from what police said were attempts to meet a young teen for sex.
Mark Silberstein, 65, was fired as an administrator at the Shaarey Zedek Congregation, said Patty Warshaw, a former administrator at the synagogue. She did not comment further.
Silberstein is charged with three felonies – accosting a child for immoral purposes, third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person between 13 and 15, and using a computer to commit a crime, according to online court records.
The charges were sought by the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office, which could not be immediately reached for comment.
Police claim Silberstein began communicating with a detective posing as a 15-year-old boy in early November, then in early January agreed to meet the boy for sex on Jan. 4, according to court records.
Silberstein, according to police, arrived at Grand Woods Park in Delta Township to pick up the boy and admitted to planning to spend the night in a Bay City motel with the boy “for companionship.”
His bond was set at $2,500 cash or surety.
Silberstein is scheduled for another appearance in Eaton County District Court next week. Court records indicate a public defender is representing him.
Silberstein could not be reached for comment.
Silberstein also worked as a producer at WLNS-TV-6, according to a story from the station. The State Journal reached out to the news station but could not immediately reach anyone for comment.
Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: East Lansing synagogue leader faces child sex crimes charges