Music Teacher Sent to Prison for Molesting 9-Year-Old Student

By REBECA IBARRA

A 70-year-old music teacher was sentenced to two years in prison and five years post-release supervision in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday for molesting a 9-year-old girl during lesson.

Ilya Lehman, who had originally faced up to seven years in prison, pleaded guilty in January to sexually assaulting his student in exchange for a reduced sentence.

In his pre-sentence report, Lehman described the 9-year-old as “flirtatious,” blaming the girl for his actions, Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser said.

“He still blames the victim,” the judge said. “That’s ludicrous.”

Lehman formerly ran The Early Ear, air jordan 12 femmes an Upper West and Upper East Side chain of children’s music schools. He taught the girl for 5 ½ years and admitted to touching and penetrating her genitals with his fingers over the course of two years.

His friends, family and former students sent letters to Konviser describing the child molester as “a brave, reliable, model citizen and talented musician.”

Konviser was not swayed. “A talented musician he may well be,” she said. “A model citizen he is not.”
One of the letters said Lehman was not a danger. Konviser said “the girl’s family would and should disagree.”

Lehman’s wife, sons and sister were in the courtroom. “I want to apologize to the girl and her family, “ he told the judge through a Russian interpreter. “I want to apologize to my family.”