U.S. rabbi resigns in online sex scandal

Dateline NBC reports that Potomac rabbi, Prince George's County teacher, Eastern Shore doctor lose jobs for allegedly trying to solicit sex from minors online

Associated Press/November 5, 2005

A Potomac rabbi who is part of a national youth group, a Prince George's County teacher and an Eastern Shore doctor have lost their jobs after allegedly trying to solicit sex from minors online. It was part of an undercover probe by the television show "Dateline NBC," that aired Friday night.

According to a statement from Rockville-based PANIM - The Institute for Jewish Leaders and Values, Rabbi David Kaye resigned from his position as vice president this week.

Prince George's County school officials say Steven Benoff, a special education teacher at Woodridge Elementary School in Prince George's, was fired August 23rd. Benoff, of Washington, was fired after Fairfax County, Virginia, police notified the system about "information relating to children."

After an investigation, Shore Health System of Maryland has barred an unnamed doctor who had worked at Memorial Hospital in Easton and Dorchester General Hospital, barred him from practicing at any system facility.

None of the men have been charged.

A "Dateline NBC" camera crew conducted an online sting with the Internet watchdog group, Perverted Justice, in which 19 men went to a house believing they would meet 12- to 14-year-old children.

Instead, they were confronted by "Dateline" reporter Chris Hansen.