Lawyer For Missionary Convicted Of Sexual Assault Against Orphans Comments On Client’s Sentencing

March 09, 2016 - PRESSADVANTAGE -

AbuseGuardian.com reports on an Oklahoma missionary who was sentenced on Monday, March 7th, 2016 to forty years in prison on four counts of child sexual abuse. The abuse allegedly occurred at Upendo Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya in 2014.

The 21-year-old missionary volunteered as a live-in caretaker at the orphanage which cared for disabled and neglected children. Several male and female children between the ages of 4 and 10, said that the man touched them sexually or told them to touch themselves while he watched. In June of 2015 a federal jury found the man guilty of seven counts, yet in January, a judge threw out 3 of the counts saying that the prosecutors had failed to establish sexual contact. The missionary and his attorney stand by his claim of innocence, yet the convicted man read a statement in court in which he asked for mercy. He also stated, “Judgement of God is central, not the judgement of man. I do not fear God’s judgement.”

In addition to the sentence of 40 years in a federal prison, he was ordered to pay $15,863 in restitution, to register as a sex offender for life, and to spend the rest of his life on supervised release after his prison sentence is complete. The missionary’s lawyer commented on his client’s sentence stating “Obviously, I'm disappointed the sentence is as great as it is but, on the other hand, the judge could have made it a more harsh sentence.” He said they would appeal this decision in a few weeks and commented that “There was a mistake made here, a tragic mistake.”

Eunice Menja, director of the Upendo Children’s Home, described the awful effects the molestations have had on the children of the orphanage, explaining how many have decided to return to a life of homelessness rather than remain in the orphanage where they do not feel safe. She described other children who have constant nightmares and a lack of trust after the violations they experienced. Menja had hoped that he would receive a life sentence, yet hopes this will provide some peace to the victims. She commented on the sentencing by stating, “We have mixed feelings. We are happy that he’s going to be locked away. It’s a beginning of healing.”

Attorney Brian Kent understands the devastation sexual abuse can have on children. He and his firm are devoted to advocating for victims of sexual abuse and treating each survivor with dignity and compassion. Kent comments, “Victims of sexual abuse need to know that it is not their fault. We as a society have an obligation to support victims, and to work at preventing these assaults from occurring.” Kent and his firm sponsor the online resource website AbuseGuardian.com and are currently representing several clients in claims of sexual assault.

For more information, or to ask questions regarding potential sexual assault claims, please call Brian Kent, Esq. at 866-577-2786.

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