A former missionary from Oklahoma has been found guilty of sexually abusing children in Kenya.
Matthew Lane Durham, 21, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Monday as he begged the judge for mercy.
“Judgment from God is central, not the judgment of man,” Durham said in an Oklahoma City courtroom on Monday, according to Reuters. “I do not fear God’s judgment.”
Acting US Attorney Mark Yancey said that Durham “took advantage” of his position as a ministry volunteer to sexually assault the children, who were both male and female between the ages of 4 and 10-years-old.
“The significant sentence imposed today will remove the threat of any other children being exploited by him. However, the innocence of the child victims cannot be restored and their lives will never be the same,” he said, according to KWTV.
“It is our hope and prayer that his conviction and lengthy sentence will someday bring them some comfort and peace.”
After Dunham completes his prison term, he must spend his life on supervised release and must register as a sex offender. He's also been ordered to pay $15,863 in restitution.
