Six Haitian men testified against Michael Karl Geilenfeld.
Geilenfeld was convicted of one count of traveling in foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct and six counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.
Geilenfeld failed to receive any money from the initial suit against Kendrick and the defamation claims were dismissed.
“Geilenfeld really brought it on himself by filing the civil suit,” Kendrick said. “The government became more interested. I think the prosecutors were able to assemble a credible case that put this guy in jail.”
Federal prosecutors opened the testimonies with a young man who spoke about his experience living at St. Joseph’s when he was 12.
According to the Miami Herald, the young man testified that Geilenfeld brought him into his bedroom to help him learn a prayer. Once inside, Geilenfeld sat the boy in a chair and kissed him on the mouth, fondled his genitals, and attempted to perform anal sex.
“His pants were down, and his penis was rubbing against my behind,” testified the 28-year-old man, who pushed away from Geilenfeld and “ran outside.” He said Geilenfeld later told him “not to tell anybody else about this.”
“He ran a kingdom down there. It was just terrible,” Kendrick said. “Does this (conviction) make all the abuse go away for the victims? Of course not. But it does give these guys a sense of dignity.”
Source: Black Enterprise
