Sect leader guilty of molestation

Atlanta Journal-Constitution/January 24, 2004
By Bill Torpy

Brunswick -- Nuwaubian leader Malachi York has been called Dr. York, Isa Muhammad, Baba, The Master Teacher and The Savior.

But after his conviction Friday in federal court on racketeering and molestation-related charges, U.S. Attorney Maxwell Wood referred to York in more earthly terms: "He is Dwight York, a con man from Brooklyn, New York."

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, who has investigated York for the past six years, said authorities "have sent away not a savior but one of the most heinous criminals of the history of this nation."

The 58-year-old leader of the Putnam County-based United Nation of Nuwaubian Moors could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

A jury of nine men and three women deliberated seven hours over two days to convict York of four counts of racketeering and six child molestation-related charges. Prosecutors say York would likely be sentenced in March to between 20 and 30 years. "It's an appropriate sentence . . . in light of the viciousness of the crimes," Wood said. "You have 14 victims and we believe many more."

The jury also voted that the government could seize York's interests in a mansion in Athens and a 476-acre farm near Eatonton because of the racketeering conviction. Another hearing will be held to determine what the government can seize, said Wood.

York showed no reaction when the verdict was read. Nor did about 40 members of his organization, who have watched the three-week trial on closed circuit TV in another courtroom. The judge closed the courtroom to all but credentialed media to avoid disruptions from York's followers.

York's attorney, Adrian Patrick, described his client as being "upbeat" and "relieved the case was over."

Patrick said York asked him to tell his followers "it would be all right." None would speak after the verdict.

The jury did not buy defense contentions that York was framed by a conspiracy concocted by his son, Jacob, a music producer who'd had a falling out with his father.

Jacob York said Friday he did not know most of the victim witnesses and had not talked with them, much less conspired with them. "But I'm flattered that he thinks I'm that smart," he said. "Justice for the innocents has finally been done."

The defense called six alleged victims who were named in the indictment against York. They testified they had not been molested but had been pressured by investigators to say they had been. Other Nuwaubians tried to attack the credibility of the molestation victims. One witness for York called her daughter, who testified she was molested by York, "a liar."

Prosecutors described a culture where York was the unquestioned ruler and a godlike figure for his quasi-religious organization, which he founded in New York and moved to Middle Georgia in 1993.

York used teachings from Christianity, Islam, Judaism and mixed them with stories of extraterrestial beings and ancient Egypt. The Putnam property was adorned with pyramids, obelisks and even a sphinx. More than 200 followers lived on the land at one point, with children separated from their parents.

"York's strategy was to break apart the family, to make the family secondary to him," said Wood. Prosecutors argued York had older victims groom younger children to become his sexual partners. He used pornographic cartoons, gave them candy and jewelry and had a Pink Panther doll with a penis to "desensitize them to sexual experiences," said Wood.

Sills said it was extremely difficult to get molestation victims to come forward. He said he received reports in 1997 that young girls from the property were having babies. He said investigators have found evidence that York fathered more than 100 children.

In 1998, Sills and other Putnam officials, who were then battling the Nuwaubians over a building code violation, received letters that York was molesting the children of his followers. But the first victim did not come forward until 2001, Sills said. York was arrested in May 2002.

"It was like another nation," Sills said, "a nation behind an iron curtain."

Dawn Baskin, a Putnam County prosecutor, said the 13 young men and women who testified against York were courageous for breaking away from the hold of their families, friends and the organization. "They pointed a finger and said 'Yes, you did.' That is the true picture of a hero."

York had pleaded guilty to federal and state charges and was to have gotten 15 years, with the prison terms to run concurrently. However, a federal judge said 15 years was too lenient. York's guilty plea to 77 state charges still stands.