Oklahoma man appeals conviction in Kenyan orphanage abuse

Published March 21, 2016

An Oklahoma man found guilty of sexually abusing children at an orphanage in Kenya has told federal officials he plans to appeal his conviction and 40-year prison sentence.

Attorneys for 21-year-ld Matthew Lane Durham of Edmond filed a notice of appeal Monday, two weeks after Durham was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David L. Russell.

A 12-member jury convicted Durham in June of four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places but cleared him of accusations that he had planned to abuse the children before leaving the United States.

Prosecutors allege Durham targeted orphans while volunteering at the Upendo Children's Home in Nairobi between April and June 2014. Durham's attorneys say he is innocent and that incriminating statements he made were coerced by orphanage officials.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/oklahoma-man-appeals-conviction-in-kenyan-orphanage-abuse