A Salt Lake City jury have convicted a female migrant from Tonga, Alavina Florreich (70), of childhood sex abuse against Avrohom Zippel, now a 28-year-old man. Despite there being no evidence of the alleged abuse, the jury were compelled by a police investigation to find Alavina guilty on all counts at the Scott Matheson Courthouse. 

According to Police investigators, Florreich had admitted to inappropriately touching Zippel. She is scheduled to be sentenced early next year and could face life imprisonment, although she plans to appeal.

The victim, Avrohom Zippel who is a Jewish Rabbi, accused the former school teacher from Tonga of grooming him from the age of 8 into performing sexual acts. He stated that he only became aware that he had been abused when he was 20-years-old after watching an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” – a fictional drama series.

Zippel approached police and a probe was launched. Following the investigation, Florreich was arrested last year. She admitted during an interrogation that there had been sexual contact when he was 18 but that he had "begged" her.

Alavini’s lawyer criticized police for their methods and a former employer of Alavini testified in court that she was ‘one of the kindest, good-hearted people I know’. Alavini’s defence accused Zippel of being motivated by attention.