Support for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence from RAINN, or the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network hotline, can be found at 800-656-HOPE. The National Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE.
ITHACA, NY (WSKG)—Binghamton police have arrested a third person as part of an investigation into owners of The Colonial, a restaurant in downtown Binghamton.
Police took Brooklyn resident Leor Kweller into custody on Monday, days after arresting his brother, Yaron Kweller, who is a part owner of The Colonial.
Both men are charged with rape in the third degree. In New York, that is a felony charge and describes the assault of a person under 17 years old, or someone who was incapable of consenting.
In a statement Monday, Binghamton police said the men were tied to an incident on Nov. 27, 2021. Police have been investigating it in conjunction with the Broome County District Attorney’s office, which recommended the charges.
Another member of The Colonial’s ownership group, Jordan Rindgen, was arrested last week in connection to the incident. Rindgen has pled not guilty to felony drug sale charges and will appear in court on March 9.
All three men were arraigned in Binghamton City Court and released.
In a statement last week, a spokesperson for The Colonial’s acting ownership team said both Rindgen and Kweller were “removed from business operations” after the formal police investigation was announced last year. They have not, however, been removed as partners from the restaurant’s ownership group.
The incident remains an ongoing investigation, the statement said, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Binghamton Police Detective Division at 607-772-7080.