Sect Leader Guilty of Molestation

The leader of a quasi-religious sect was convicted Friday of molesting children at the group’s ancient Egyptian-style compound.

Malachi York, 58, likely will get between 20 and 30 years in prison, prosecutors said. “He is going to be in jail a long time, we hope,” said Assistant U.S. Atty. Max Wood.

During the trial, 14 boys and girls from the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors said York molested them from 1998 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.

“I’m very proud of the victims,” prosecutor Richard Moultrie said. “It is their victory.”

York’s attorney, Adrian Patrick, said he will appeal the conviction. “This is Mr. York’s first step toward freedom,” he said.

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.

Members of the group were not paid for their work. Instead, York managed the money and decided whom to reward and punish, prosecutors said.

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 doctor’s visits.

York did not take the stand. His attorney argued that the youngsters had concocted their stories in a conspiracy by York’s son to frame his father.

The defense also said the government was out to get the mostly black Nuwaubian sect because their beliefs were outside the mainstream.

York still faces 77 state charges of child molestation.