A former missionary from Oklahoma has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after he was convicted of sexually abusing children at an orphanage in Kenya.
Matthew Lane Durham, 21, wearing an orange prison-issued jumpsuit, read a statement before sentencing on Monday asking the court for mercy, but did not express remorse for his offences.
Prosecutors alleged Durham targeted orphans while volunteering at the Upendo Children's Home in Nairobi between April and June 2014.
He had served as a volunteer since 2012 at the orphanage, which cares for neglected children.
Durham faced up to 30 years on each of four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.
US District Judge David L Russell also ordered him to pay restitution of $15,863.
In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said Durham's actions have had a chilling effect on the lives of dozens of foreign volunteers in Kenya, leaving them "under the cloud of suspicion, distrust and apprehension when they volunteer their time, talent and resources for the betterment of children in East Africa and beyond".
It added: "There is a real perception among Upendo's local Kenyan community that more paedophiles lurk among the volunteers, especially the young male volunteers."
A jury convicted Durham in June on seven counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places, but Judge Russell acquitted him on three of the charges in January.
Defence lawyer Stephen Jones said Durham plans to appeal against his convictions.
Eunice Menja, founder of the orphanage, fought back tears as she read a statement in court.
She said: "Matthew Durham defiled the children. Matthew has no remorse. After he got caught, he still denied."
Prosecutors examined evidence which included handwritten, signed confessions that Durham gave orphanage officials after he was accused of inappropriate behaviour.
Mr Jones claimed the statements were coerced when Durham was isolated, had his passport taken and claimed the allegations were created by orphanage officials to obtain $17,000 from the US government for security cameras.
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