Criminal9/14/2026

Kindergarten Assistant Sentenced to Seven Years for Abusing 12 Children

The Central District Court in Lod sentenced Sheli Sheinker, who worked as an assistant at a kindergarten in Netanya, to seven years in prison. She was convicted of numerous counts of abuse and assault against 12 young children and was also ordered to pay their families a total of 300,000 shekels.

Key facts

•Court: Central District Court in Lod
•Convicted person: Sheli Sheinker
•Victims: 12 young children
•Period of the offenses: May 29, 2024–June 27, 2024
•Sentence: 7 years in prison
•Compensation: 300,000 shekels in total

What Happened

The abuse occurred from May 29 to June 27, 2024, while Sheinker worked at the kindergarten for 15 days. The court found that she hit children on the head and face, pulled them by their arms and hair, threw them onto the floor, mats, and into cribs, and kicked some of them. The victims were 12 young children under her supervision.

What She Was Convicted Of

Sheinker was convicted of nine counts of abuse of a helpless minor by a person responsible for the minor and 33 counts of assault causing actual harm to a helpless person by a person responsible for that person. She was also convicted of two counts of assault under aggravated circumstances. She was acquitted of some charges on legal grounds, but the court stressed that this did not mean the acts in question had not occurred or that their severity was diminished.

How the Court Determined the Sentence

The prosecution sought a ten-year prison sentence, while the court set a sentencing range of six and a half to ten years. Judge Efrat Fink rejected the attempt to explain what happened as professional burnout, given Sheinker's young age and brief period of employment at the kindergarten. At the same time, the court took into account that she was 22 years old at the time of the offenses, had no prior convictions, admitted most of the facts in the indictment, and had begun therapy.

The Final Sentence

Sheinker was sentenced to seven years of actual imprisonment, with credit for time spent in detention, as well as suspended prison terms. She must pay the families of the affected children a total of 300,000 shekels. The parents told the court that the children woke at night screaming and experienced fits of anger, eating disorders, fear of being touched, and other consequences.

What this means for you

When imposing a sentence for violence against children, the court assesses each instance involving a victim, the duration and nature of the acts, and the consequences for the children and their families. Young age, lack of prior convictions, admission of the facts, and the start of treatment may mitigate the sentence, but they do not eliminate criminal liability or the obligation to pay compensation.

Find a lawyer for this topic

Case analysis based on court rulings