OKLAHOME
The Norman Transcript
By Michael Kinney
OKLAHOMA CITY — A federal jury on Friday found former Edmond church missionary Matthew Lane Durham guilty of aggravated sexual abuse with children.
Durham, 20, had served as a volunteer at the Upendo Children’s Home in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi since 2012. During his fourth trip, he was accused of sexually assaulting seven boys and girls under the age of 18 between April and June of 2014.
Jurors found him guilty on seven counts. It took the jury nine hours of deliberation over two days to reach a verdict. Durham, who claimed his innocence on the stand, showed no emotion as the verdict was read. His parents wept openly as did members of the orphanage staff who testified at the trial.
“The jury has determined that while in Kenya, Mr. Durham committed sexual acts with children,” U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats said. “This is a sad situation for all involved. The bottom line is Mr. Durham is a threat to children and it will be our position that he be extracted from society at sentencing for a significant period of time.”
According to Coats, Durham can receive up to 30 years for each count, a maximum of 210 years. After the verdict was read, Durham was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. Judge David Russell ordered a pre-sentence investigation.
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