Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Comments
Sign in to like
Reblog on Tumblr
Share
Tweet
"Matthew Durham defiled the children," Menja said as she fought back tears. "Matthew has no
remorse. After he got caught, he still denied."
Menja told reporters after the hearing that she hopes Durham's 40-year sentence is long enough
to prevent him from being a threat to anyone else.
"We're hoping that when he comes out he will be a changed man," she said.
Federal prosecutors had asked in their sentencing memo that Russell to sentence Durham to 120
years in prison the maximum punishment he faced. Jones had sought a sentence of just eight
years, followed by probation.
Evidence produced by prosecutors included handwritten, signed confessions that Durham gave
orphanage officials after he was accused of inappropriate behavior.
Jones has argued that the statements were coerced by orphanage officials who isolated Durham,
took his passport and created the allegations to obtain $17,000 from the U.S. government for
security cameras.
Jones has described Durham, who was 19 when he was charged in 2014, as "an emotionally
vulnerable teenager" who was struggling with "sexual identity and development" while also
being a devout Christian.