York found guilty of child molestation and racketeering

<p>Cult leader Malachi York was convicted Friday of using his followers to provide him with girls and boys for his sexual pleasure.</p><p>A jury found York, 58, guilty of 10 of the 11 child molestation and racketeering counts for crimes committed at the groups ancient Egyptian-style compound in middle Georgia.</p><p>York likely faces between 20 and 30 years in federal prison when hes sentenced in about two months, prosecutors said.</p><p>During the trial, 14 boys and girls from the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors said York molested them from 1988 until 2002, when federal agents raided the compound, a 476-acre property in Eatonton that is decorated with pyramids, a sphinx and statues of American Indians.</p><p>Im very proud of the victims, said prosecutor Richard Moultrie. It is their victory.</p><p>The government charged that York recruited older girls to groom younger girls for sex with him, and that he used the cult for his own financial gain.</p><p>The sect was founded as a Muslim commune in New York and moved to Eatonton in 1993, where York set himself up as a messiah figure called the Master Teacher.</p><p>(The prosecutors) have sent away not a savior, but probably one of the most heinous criminals in the history of this nation, said Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, whose office investigated the case.</p><p>York manipulated members of the group by handling its finances and deciding whom to reward and punish, prosecutors said.</p><p>If girls pleased York, they got prizes such as diamond rings from Wal-Mart or trips to a restaurant, according to testimony. If they angered him, their food was rationed and they had to fill out forms for necessities such as sanitary napkins and doctors visits.</p><p>York did not take the stand. His attorney Adrian Patrick argued that the youngsters had concocted their stories in a conspiracy by Yorks son to frame his father. Witnesses said Jacob York hated his father for not funding his musical career.</p><p>York will appeal, Patrick said.</p><p>This is Mr. Yorks first step toward freedom, he said. We felt the only way to get the public to see both sides was to go to trial. It was a miracle for us to have the jury contemplate the case as long as they did.</p><p>The defense also said the government was out to get the mostly black Nuwaubian sect because their beliefs were outside the mainstream.</p><p>The jurors reached their verdict after seven hours of deliberation, then went back into court chambers and decided that the federal government could seize parts of their compound, where some members still live.</p><p>It was good vs. evil, said Jalaine Ward, a case agent with the FBI who interviewed some of the victims. Were very happy _ it didnt come easy.</p><p>York was acquitted of a charge that he abused three children during a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida.</p><p>About 45 of Yorks followers showed little reaction as they watched the verdict being read on a television in a separate courtroom, as ordered by Judge Ashley Royal after concerns about disruptive protests. Some Nuwaubians cried as they put their heads in their hands.</p><p>At past court hearings, Nuwaubians dressed as Egyptian pharaohs, mummies and birds and beat on drums. This time, heavily armed police patrolled outside the courthouse, and there were few disruptions.</p><p>With their leader convicted and his property seized, the prospects for the future of the Nuwaubians appear grim.</p><p>York still faces 77 state charges of child molestation, which he pleaded guilty to as part of a plea bargain a year ago. He will withdraw those pleas, Patrick said.</p><p>Mr. York is one of the ... closest examples of what a pedophile is, said Assistant District Attorney Dawn Baskin, who will prosecute the states case.</p><p>Yorks trial was moved from Macon to Brunswick because of pretrial publicity.</p><p>Over the years, York has incorporated Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Egyptian mysticism and space aliens into his teachings. He unsuccessfully argued he has American Indian heritage and should not be judged by the U.S. court system.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/1/178276