Judge Grants $10K Bond To Man Charged With Molesting Kids During Mission Trip

A judge has granted a $10,000 bond to an Edmond man accused of sex crimes against children in Kenya.

Monday, August 4th 2014, 7:34 pm

By: News 9


A judge granted a $10,000 bond to a man accused of molesting children during a mission trip.

Mathew Durham, 19, from Edmond is charged with sex acts involving minors at a Kenyan orphanage where he volunteered.

The Kenyan government wants to extradite him back to Kenya. Durham's bond is set to take effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday if it's not appealed. He'll be under house arrest and only allowed to leave for medical reasons or for court, and his father will be responsible for him until his trial.

There are no cameras allowed inside the federal courthouse and no words anyone would say once outside the walls of the courtroom, except Durham's attorney Stephen Jones.

"Frankly, I wasn't surprised the government has no evidence except an alleged confession," Jones said.

That confession Jones says came after the founder of the orphanage in Kenya kept Durham's passport for five days until Durham admitted to sexually molesting children.

Durham also allegedly confessed that he was possessed with a demon named “Luke” and that Luke is the one who caused him to do it.

On Monday, a judge told the courtroom the allegations against Durham are "serious horrific charges involving minor victims." That judge granted Durham a $10,000 bond set to take effect Tuesday afternoon and said he doesn't pose a threat to the community.

Durham will be released under several conditions including he doesn't break the law, he cooperates with a DNA sample, he surrenders his passport, he doesn't travel outside the western district of Oklahoma, he has no contact with victims, witnesses, anyone with disabilities or under the age of 18 and he has no electronic devices other than a landline.

News 9 went to the Durham home Monday evening, but nobody came to the door.

The Federal Government has a chance Tuesday to appeal Monday’s bond ruling, and that's the reason they are delaying his release until Tuesday afternoon. Durham is in the Logan County Jail.

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