February 25, 2025
Six Haitian males testified in opposition to Michael Karl Geilenfeld.
Michael Karl Geilenfeld, 73, of Colorado was convicted of sexually abusing younger Haitian boys in the orphanage he opened within the Nineteen Eighties, CBS Information experiences.
Earlier this month, a federal jury in Miami listened to the testimonies of six Haitian males who lived on the St. Joseph’s Dwelling For Boys between 2005 and 2010 and stated they had been sexually abused by Geilenfeld.
Geilenfeld was convicted of 1 depend of touring in international commerce for the aim of partaking in illicit sexual conduct and 6 counts of partaking in illicit sexual conduct in a international place.
Geilenfeld faces as much as 30 years in jail for every cost. He can be sentenced on Could 5.
In 2013, Paul Kendrick pushed accusations of sexual abuse in opposition to Geilenfeld after he and North Carolina nonprofit Hearts of Haiti, which reportedly raised cash for his orphanage, filed a defamation lawsuit in opposition to Kendrick.
The 2 related in 2003 after Kendrick turned an activist following a go to to Haiti and met a director of a college for homeless youths, Douglas Perlit, who was convicted in 2010 of sexually abusing youth in that faculty.
Geilenfeld didn’t obtain any cash from the preliminary go well with in opposition to Kendrick and the defamation claims had been dismissed.
“Geilenfeld actually introduced it on himself by submitting the civil go well with,” Kendrick stated. “The federal government turned extra . I believe the prosecutors had been in a position to assemble a reputable case that put this man in jail.”
Federal prosecutors opened the testimonies with a younger man who spoke about his expertise residing at St. Joseph’s when he was 12.
In accordance with the Miami Herald, the younger man testified that Geilenfeld introduced him into his bed room to assist him be taught a prayer. As soon as inside, Geilenfeld sat the boy in a chair and kissed him on the mouth, fondled his genitals, and tried to carry out anal intercourse.
“His pants had been down, and his penis was rubbing in opposition to my behind,” testified the 28-year-old man, who pushed away from Geilenfeld and “ran exterior.” He stated Geilenfeld later instructed him “to not inform anyone else about this.”
Geilenfeld operated a number of orphanages in Haiti till 2014 and opened one other within the Dominican Republic. Kendrick claimed Geilenfeld assured room and board for the Haitian boys in change for abuse.
“He ran a kingdom down there. It was simply horrible,” Kendrick stated. “Does this (conviction) make all of the abuse go away for the victims? After all not. But it surely does give these guys a way of dignity.”
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