A teenage missionary on a mission trip to Kenya is accused of raping girls and boys in an African orphanage, KTLA.com reports.
Matthew Durham traveled to Kenya with the organization Upendo, which assists orphaned Kenyan children with housing, food, and clothing.
Durham, 19, is charged with raping 3 young girls at a Kenyan children’s home, forcing young boys to perform oral sex on him and instructing other children to watch. He is being held without bond in his home state of Oklahoma.
“This is a young man in our community that made choices to exploit children in an orphanage,” said United States Attorney Sanford Coats. “It’s a true tragedy all the way around.”
The complaint alleges that Durham, who traveled to Kenya several times, “requested to stay at the children’s home in an ‘overflow bunk’ rather than at an offsite facility.”
The affidavit states Durham “often touched [the children] in a sexual manner or told them to touch themselves while he watched.”
After being confronted by a suspicious caretaker, Durham confessed.
“A caretaker at the orphanage noticed something wasn’t right and confronted Mr. Durham. He admitted to some of the acts,” said Coats.
The affidavit continues, “The victims are believed to be both boys and girls between the ages of four and nine, at least one of whom is HIV positive.”
Prosecutors say while the alleged sex crimes were committed overseas, Durham can be held accountable for the crimes in Oklahoma.
