Court discusses penalties for York

A psychology professor testified Friday that it could take years before the victims of cult leader Malachi York recovered from being sexually abused – if they ever recovered at all.

The testimony came just before three of the victims offered to speak on York’s behalf, but federal judge Ashley Royal ruled testimony from two of the women would not be heard. The judge ended the hearing after a question came up about the third witnesses – a woman York’s supporters said has recanted her orginal trial testimony and could prove his innocence.

Richard Elliott, who teaches at Mercer University School of Medicine, testified Friday that it will take an estimated $606,000 to pay for psychological treatment for 13 young men and women abused by York and his followers.

Elliott said the figure was just a conservative estimate, and it could actually cost much more if hospitalization was needed.

“There is no single therapy that will work in this case,” Elliott said. “All of these victims are different. There are some who admit the abuse and some who deny it ever happened … that is not uncommon in these type situations.”

U. S. Attorney Max Wood said this money could come from the sale of the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors property and the $400,000 in cash seized when the property was searched in 2002. Wood said it was too early to tell when a hearing to determine ownership of the property would be held.

Thursday, York was sentenced in federal court to 135 years in federal prison after being convicted in January on multiple charges of child molestation and racketeering. At one point during Friday’s hearing, York jumped up and started shouting at the judge.

“What is the court afraid of?” York said. “Why is the court afraid to let the truth come out … that’s not justice.”

Read Another Article

Sect, power-brokers likely to decide polls: analysts
$412,500 is awarded in suit against surgeon

Related News Articles Topic(s): Nuwaubians Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?] Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?] Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults: ApologeticsSearch.com: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs. CounterCultSearch.com: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, and cults experts -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support. Find Related Religion & Spirituality Books at Amazon.com Nuwaubians Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles Kent Hovind: Evangelist arrested on federal charges Beast’s real mark devalued to ’616′ Muslim Woman Gives Sex Advice on Arab TV Michael Jackson Confirms Conversion to Islam Kent Hovind, ‘Dr. Dino,’ guilty on all counts The fall and rise of Carlton Pearson Search False prophet Harold Camping sets another date for rapture: May 21, 2011 Watch the film Theo van Gogh was murdered for Kent Hovind — Dr. Dino — sentenced to 10 years in prison

Search Religion News Blog