Help Haiti's children - Demand that accused US pedophile, Doug Perlitz, not be set free on bondOn October 19, 2009 at 10 a.m., accused US pedophile, Doug Perlitz will face, in New Haven Connecticut, U.S. Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis and either be released on bond or held pending his trial. (See, Haiti program founder's release may hinge on higher bond, Connecticut Post, Oct. 8, 2009; Man charged with Haiti sex abuse pleads not guilty By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN (AP); and School Founder Arraigned In Abuse Charges, wfsb.com, Founder Of Haitian School Is Accused Of Sexually Abusing Nine Former Students.)
We urge all who are in the East Coast of the US to be in that court room to support the case of the children of Haiti who are being so maligned by Perlitz's many supporters. Haiti is under occupation with a weak government, some say, that is mostly concerned with pleasing foreigners, not with protecting Haitian rights and domestic development. These Haitian children have no voice, unless we stand up for them. (UN Peacekeepers and Humanitarian Aid Workers raping, molesting and abusing Haitian children).
Recently, I spoke to an audience about the raping and molesting of Haiti's children and women, and in particular about the Doug Perlitz case, where one white man stood up and said, in sum, that Haiti was such a "hellhole," its children getting sodomized is not such a sin if Doug Perlitz the pedophile was also providing them with food and schooling! This is the attitude of Doug Perlitz's supporters in the United States. Please show up in court on October 19 at 10.a.m. and stand for these Haitian children, who have no Haitian government or Haitian institutions that will support their human rights, their innocence, their childhood, their right not to be violated by sex tourists and fake charity workers and UN "peacekeepers."
This is insupportable. Lend a hand in the case of Douglas Perlitz.
You may view a copy of the federal indictment here. Here's are some relevant points in the Douglas Perlitz case:
"1. Between 2002 and 2008, more than $2 million was transferred from the Haiti Fund to an account Douglas Perlitz controlled in Haiti.
"These monies did not include other significant capital expenses and other expenses that were directly paid by the Haiti Fund for Project Pierre Toussaint," Assistant U.S. Attorney Krishna Patel said in court papers. "Perlitz had access to an enormous sum of money ... and thus far there does not appear to be an accurate accounting of what happened to these monies."
The Haiti investigation into Douglas Perlitz began in 2007. Western Union records confirm that from 2008 through 2009, "Perlitz was sending money" to individuals in Haiti formerly enrolled in his program.
2. According to the federal indictment, in order to entice and persuade the children to comply with sex acts, Douglas Perlitz provided the promise of food and shelter and provided monetary and other benefits, including but not limited to, U.S. and foreign currency, cellphones, other electronics, shoes, clothes and other items.
Perlitz is accused of grooming the orphaned and desperately hungry street children for sexual acts, exposing them to homosexual pornography and plying them with alcoholic beverages in an effort to persuade them to spend the night in his private residence. According to the indictment, Perlitz told children not to be ashamed during sex acts; other times, he told them he was "crazy."
3. If minors refused to engage in sex acts, Douglas Perlitz would at times withhold necessities, such as bed linen or threaten to expel them from the program.
4. After allegations of almost 10-year long misconduct of sexual abuse by Perlitz surfaced in 2007, Perlitz tried to block the investigation using his relationship with a religious leader who had influence with Board Members of the Haiti Fund to continue to conceal and attempt to conceal his illegal sexual conduct, the indictment says.
5. According to court papers: "The prosecutor also charged that beginning in July 2008 and continuing until March, Perlitz traveled to the Dominican Republic to meet with some of the children and adults associated with his program, shuttered recently because of lack of funds. On the night before Perlitz's Sept. 16 arrest in Colorado, Patel said he admitted receiving 17 calls from Haiti."
6. The Haitian national police department, which began investigating Perlitz's activities in 2007, has a warrant for his arrest.
7. Also according to US court papers: During a conversation with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, Douglas Perlitz denied sexually abusing any of the children. But he allegedly said "molestation would be tough" and that the small victims "should just GET OVER IT ... He said he got over his father's death and even though it was tough he moved on ..." (See also, Haiti program founder's release may hinge on higher bond, Connecticut Post, Oct. 8, 2009).
What to do:
1. Attend the Court Hearings - Contact Ezili's HLLN [erzilidanto@yahoo.com] if you or your organization wishes to put together a bus load or groups of concerned citizens to attend the Oct. 19th or any of the other New Haven, CT, court hearings for accused US pedophile, Douglas Perlitz.
2. Contact - Write or fax a letter to the presiding judge -
The Honorable Joan G. Margolis, United States Magistrate Judge
Richard C. Lee UNITED STATES COURT HOUSE
141 Church Street
New Haven, Connecticut 06510
Chambers Tele: (203) 773-2350 -- Fax: (203) 773-2304
Clerk's Office Tele: (203) 773-2140 -- Fax: (203) 773-2334
SAMPLE LETTER TO THE JUDGE:
The Honorable Joan G. Margolis, United States Magistrate Judge
Richard C. Lee UNITED STATES COURT HOUSE
141 Church Street
New Haven, Connecticut 06510
DATE: ____, 2009
Dear Honorable Joan G. Margolis,
I am writing to request that you do not release accused pedophile Douglas Perlitz pending trial, because of the gravity of the charges - sexually abusing nine of the children he was helping in Haiti for close to ten years. Douglas Perlitz is a danger to children everywhere and there is no guarantee this compulsion that he is accused of is limited to just Haitian children in Haiti. If Douglas Perlitz is released on bond, despite the gravity of these charges, all children in the US communities he is released into may be in imminent danger, including Haitian children living in these US communities.
Court papers disclose that during a conversation with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, Douglas Perlitz denied sexually abusing any of the children. But he allegedly admitted "molestation would be tough" and that the Haitian children who were molested "should just get over it ... He said he got over his father's death and even though it was tough he moved on ..."
It would be a dereliction of duty to release Douglas Perlitz on bond based on this depraved indifference alone.
What is "tough" right now for the (local, national and international) community affected by this case, is that Douglas Perlitz's release is even being contemplated. The Court ought to clearly tell Perlitz to "get over it" and detain him pending trial because he is a danger to the community, a flight risk, and based on the indictment, he has virtually admitted to molestation. Moreover, if Douglas Perlitz is released on bond, this will cause greater fear among the victims who were abused as well as allow Perlitz more opportunity to continue his campaigns to stop the victims from testifying. Perlitz will have unlimited access via prepaid cell phones to continue to intimidate these children, most of whom are already vulnerable orphans with no parents, no shelter, little State protection in Haiti. If released Perlitz may use his mobility, access and connections to disappear the street children, put them in greater danger or otherwise prevent them from testifying. Please do not release Douglas Perlitz on bond.
Sincerely,
Your name and contact information
_________________________________
*************
cc: Ezili Dantò/Marguerite Laurent, Esq.
President, Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network ("HLLN")
Phone: (203) 829-7210
P. O. Box 3573
Stamford, CT 06905
e-mail: ezilidanto@yahoo.com
www.ezilidanto.com
Background information
108 sri lankan troops accused of sexual abuse in haiti UN
Peacekeepers 'abusing children' in Haiti - 27 Sep 08
UN Peacekeepers and Humanitarian Aid Workers raping, molesting and abusing Haitian children
Child Abuse/Molestation by white tourists in Kenya
Video Report: Child Abuse by Humanitarian Workers
Paradise for Pedophiles - Senegal
As a matter of power, money, inequality and access White-sexual abusers, pedophiles and perverted Catholic priests are not just in Haiti, destroying children innocence and lives, but African children are suffering from the pain of sexual abuse throughout the world from sexual tourism or abuse and molestation by Catholic priests/pedophiles fleeing the US after indictments or exposure and by all sorts of charity and humanitarian aid workers.
Please view this video - (Child Abuse/Molestation by white tourists in Kenya) about white-sex assault on children in Kenya as young as 6-years old. No one will tell these stories if we don't. There is an explosion of child sexual abuse in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya The same trend is taking place in Ghana, Senegal, Ghoree Island, and East Africa. The Kenyan clip provides insight into the white-sex assault on our children in Kenya. (See, video reports from Haiti on UN Peacekeepers & Humanitarian aid workers ) raping and abusing Haitian children in exchange for food, schooling or money.)
Ezili Dantò/Marguerite Laurent
President, Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network ("HLLN")
October 10, 2009*
_________________________________
Update: 10.20.2009
Ezili Dantò's Note:
Folks,
I just got this message from the Court that the bond hearing for Douglas Perlitz has been changed from October 15 to October 28 at 11: a.m.
This is a sign of the intense efforts on the parts of Perlitz' people to get him off on bond. They know we had intended to be in court on the 19th in full force. Please do not let this postponement stop our efforts to give voice to the voiceless children of Haiti affected by the Doug Perlitz case. Let's redouble our efforts, keep sending letters to the judge. And let's all schedule to show up in court on Oct. 28. Thank you so much everyone. It may be your writing efforts and that of others victim's rights organizations that is putting pressure on these folks to delay perhaps in an effort to bolster Perlilz's bond case some more.
Men anpil chay pa lou - Many hands make light a heavy load.
*******************
Forwarded Message:
Re: HLLN letter to the Judge on the Douglas Perlitz case
Thursday, October 15, 2009 1:22 PM
From: usdoj.gov
To:erzilidanto@yahoo.com
Attorney Danto
This email is being sent to you to advise you that at the detention hearing for Douglas Perlitz has been changed, at the defendant’s request, to October 28, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. before the Honorable Joan G. Margolis, US Magistrate Judge, at 141 Church St., New Haven, CT.
United States Attorney’s Office
Forwarded by Ezili's Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
_____________________________________________
Subscribe to Ezili Danto's list for updates on this case and
other issues concerning Haiti---contact her at erzilidanto@yahoo.com.
News Stories about the Scandal
_________________________________
Haiti program founder's release may hinge on higher bond
Judge hints higher bond may be OK
By Michael P. Mayko, Connecticut Post, Oct. 9, 2009
 Douglas Perlitz |  The Rev. Paul Carrier |
NEW HAVEN -- Real estate in three states worth $2.3 million, a part-time job with a Fairfield lawyer and residence at a retired Fairfield lawyer's home were not enough to secure Doug Perlitz's release on bond Thursday.
But another $3 million, as well as an additional custodian or two, might get the founder of a charitable program in Haiti out of jail until his trial on charges of sexually abusing nine of the children he was helping.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis continued the hearing to Oct. 19 after indicating she might be more receptive to a $4 million to $5 million bond with more local involvement "given the gravity of the charges."
Perlitz, a thin, sandy-haired man dressed in prison khakis, waved to supporters who packed a side of the courtroom to witness him plead not guilty to seven charges of traveling overseas to engage in sexual conduct with minors and three charges of engaging in illegal sexual conduct with minors. Each charge carries a maximum 30-year prison term.
Perlitz, 39, formerly of Fairfield, is held at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, R.I.
The arraignment was the calmest part of the 90-minute proceeding.
Margolis heard William F. Dow III, Perlitz's lawyer, disclose the "government is extremely interested in Paul Carrier," the Jesuit priest who served as Fairfield University's director of campus ministry and community service as well as headed the Haiti Fund, which raised millions for Perlitz's Project Pierre Toussaint program.
The program, which began as a street clinic grew into a residential school for street boys in Cap Haitian, Haiti, also built a two-story home where Perlitz lived. He was referred to as the "King of Project Pierre Toussaint."
Dow said if Perlitz were released on bond he could work part time in the law office of Thomas Tisdale on Spruce Street, Fairfield, and live with Anthony and Laura Sirianni in Fairfield while wearing an electronic monitoring device.
"Short of putting him in a police station, handcuffed and strapped to a radiator, this is about as tight a control to put on any person," the defense lawyer said.
But it wasn't enough for Assistant U.S. Attorney Krishna Patel, who said she knows of "no studies that those who molest children stop when they cross" a continent.
Patel, who specializes in prosecuting sexual-abuse cases, said she never had "a hands-on sex offender released by the court."
The prosecutor further advised the judge she would like to question any person who comes forward as a third-party custodian or agrees to post bond for Perlitz, as well determine who is paying for Perlitz's defense. Perlitz told a federal agent he only has "about $1,000," according to court documents.
Tisdale as well as any other "current or former board members "of the Haiti Fund could clearly be a witness in the case," Patel said. "Certain board members engaged in conduct of a very disturbing nature."
The federal probe determined more than $2 million was transferred from the Haiti Fund to an account Perlitz controlled in Haiti.
"These monies did not include other significant capital expenses and other expenses that were directly paid by the Haiti Fund for Project Pierre Toussaint," Patel said in court papers. "Perlitz had access to an enormous sum of money ... and thus far there does not appear to be an accurate accounting of what happened to these monies."
Western Union records confirm that from 2008 through 2009, "Perlitz was sending money" to individuals in Haiti formerly enrolled in his program, she said.
The prosecutor also charged that beginning in July 2008 and continuing until March, Perlitz traveled to the Dominican Republic to meet with some of the children and adults associated with his program, shuttered recently because of lack of funds. On the night before Perlitz's Sept. 16 arrest in Colorado, Patel said he admitted receiving 17 calls from Haiti.
The Haitian national police department, which began investigating Perlitz's activities, has a warrant for his arrest.
During a conversation with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, Perlitz denied sexually abusing any of the children. But he allegedly said "molestation would be tough" but the victims "should just get over it ... He said he got over his father's death and even though it was tough he moved on ..." Patel disclosed in court papers.
Dow downplayed the allegations, claiming they arose out of a rift between differing groups of people operating the Haiti Fund and Project Pierre Toussaint.
"There are a number of people who support and believe fervently in his innocence and the good works he's done," Dow said.
______________________
Who’s who in the Perlitz scandal
By Chris Simmons, September 23, 2009, The Mirror
The Main Players:
Doug Perlitz:
 | |
Douglas Perlitz |
The focus of an investigation into allegations of child abuse in Haiti. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Perlitz, who is now facing 10 charges: seven counts of traveling outside the United States for the purpose of engaging in sex with minors and three counts of engaging in sexual conduct in foreign places with minors. Each charge carries a maximum 30-year prison term and a $250,000 fine. Perlitz graduated from Fairfield in 1992 and started a charitable school in Haiti. Fairfield has had an indirection connection with the charity for years. Perlitz was awarded an honorary degree in 2002 and delivered the commencement speech the same year.
Paul Kendrick:
 | |
Paul Kendrick |
Paul Carrier:
 | |
Fr. Paul Carrier |
Other Fairfield Players:
Mark Reed:
The vice president of Student Administrative and Student Affairs, Reed met last year with The Mirror to discuss the allegations, but off the record. He has borne the brunt of Kendrick’s e-mails. The Connecticut Post also reported that Reed handled monetary support for the Haiti Fund from Fairfield.
Deb Picarazzi:
The operation assistant for Campus Ministry is also a board member for the Haiti Fund. She did not comment for this story because she is currently under a subpoena for the upcoming trial.
Larry Miners:
An economics professor, Miners was on the board of directors for the Haiti Fund.
Sue Macavoy:
A former nursing professor, Macavoy was on the board of directors for the Haiti Fund.
Fred Wheeler:
The vice president for development at Fairfield, Wheeler was on the board of directors for the Haiti Fund.
Cathy Lozier:
A former assistant tennis coach at Fairfield, Lozier was on the board of directors for the Haiti Fund.
Similar Posts:
* Government files pretrial motion to detain Perlitz
* Perlitz Trial Moving Forward
* Did the University try to cover up Perlitz allegations?
* Fairfield alum indicted for sexual abuse in Haiti
* University, local leaders tied to Perlitz indictment
* University responds to Perlitz scandal
* Words from the Web: Discussing Doug Perlitz
______________________
Man charged with Haiti sex abuse pleads not guilty
By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN (AP), Oct. 8, 2009
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A former Connecticut man charged with sexually abusing nine boys at a school for poor children he founded in Haiti should not be released from prison because he poses a "clear and continuing danger,"federal prosecutors said.
A detention hearing was planned Thursday in New Haven to determine whether 39-year-old Douglas Perlitz, founder of the Project Pierre Toussaint school in Cap-Haitien, should continue to be held in prison.
Perlitz, who formerly lived in Fairfield County, Conn., was arrested at his home in Eagle, Colo., last month.
Authorities accused him of enticing children into sex acts by promising food, shelter, cash, cell phones, electronics, shoes and clothing.
He also withheld benefits and threatened to expel the boys if they refused to have sexual relations, prosecutors said.
Perlitz's attorney, William Dow III, said his client intends to plead not guilty and will argue he should be released from prison pending trial.
Perlitz has surrendered his passport and would be monitored electronically if released
from prison, Dow said. "There's no evidence, no claim that anyone in the United States has been endangered by my client," Dow said Thursday.
"He is a man not only with a clean record but an admirable record who enjoys the support of many many people in the face of these allegations."
In court papers filed Wednesday, prosecutors call Perlitz a sexual predator who used a charitable institution to sexually molest vulnerable children for a decade. Electronic monitoring only tells authorities where a person is, not what they are doing, prosecutors said.
There are simply no conditions of release that can assure the safety of children in the community and his appearance in court," prosecutors wrote, citing the length of the alleged crimes, Perlitz' extensive international travel and access he had to millions of dollars in donations.
Perlitz continued to visit and contact former students amid the investigation, prosecutors said."He clearly is very focused on either controlling these individuals or has little control over his sexual impulses towards minors," authorities wrote. "In either case, he presents a clear and continuing danger."While authorities allege Perlitz sexually abused nine boys, they said "many more" told Haitian authorities they were sexually abused by Perlitz for a separate investigation. Perlitz told an investigator victims of molestation "need to move on and get over it," prosecutors wrote.
Perlitz admitted "some boundaries were crossed" when he allowed children to stay overnight in his room but he denied any sexual contact with children, according to court papers.The indictment lists seven counts of traveling outside of the United States with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with minors and three counts of engaging in sexual conduct in foreign places with minors.
The educational program initially served mostly street children as young as 6 years old, and later expanded to include a residential program for high school-aged children. Children were offered meals, sports, classroom instruction and access to running water for baths.
Volunteers and staff members were scared to come forward with the allegations, the indictment says, because Perlitz controlled the school's operations and "utilized the fear of unemployment and the difficult economic situation in Haiti.
Each count in the indictment carries up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
______________________
School Founder Arraigned In Abuse Charges,
wfsb.com
Founder Of Haitian School Is Accused Of Sexually Abusing Nine Former Students, Oct. 8, 2009
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A United States district courtroom in New Haven was packed with supporters for Douglas Perlitz on Thursday.
Perlitz is accused of sexually abusing nine students at a school that he founded in Haiti. At his arraignment and detention hearing on Thursday, he plead not guilty.
In addition to calling the case circumstantial, Perlitz’s attorney said that his family offered $2 million worth of property to secure his release until trial, and a Fairfield family would let Perlitz stay with them under house arrest with an ankle bracelet.
The assistant U.S. Attorney said that he should not be released because since he had been forced out of the Haitian school, he remained in contact with former pupils, visiting them in the Dominican Republic.
The judge wants to hear more from both sides, with a higher amount of money posted for Perlitz to be released. The detention hearing was continued until the end of October.
______________________
Perlitz arraigned
By Chris Simmons,
The Mirror, October 10, 2009
Douglas Perlitz ‘92 appeared in court for the first time on Thursday to be arraigned on 10 counts involving sexually abusing children in Haiti.
In front of a packed courtroom at the Richard C. Lee Federal Courthouse in New Haven, Perlitz, dressed in prison khakis, stood with his hands clasped behind his back and leaned forward to plead not guilty to seven charges of traveling overseas to engage in sexual conduct with minors and three charges of engaging in illegal sexual conduct with minors. Each charge carries a maximum 30-year prison term and a $250,000 fine.
But first, arguments were heard on a motion filed by the government to detain Perlitz until his trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Krishna Patel argued that Perlitz was a flight risk, a danger to the community, and needed to be detained until his trial. William F. Dow III, Perlitz’s attorney, responded by saying that Perlitz has no criminal record, except for a DUI this year in Colorado.
Dow also put together a package to try to secure Perlitz’s release. Perlitz’s mother offered to put up two houses, his brother another one and his uncle a fourth house for a total worth of 1.9-2.3 million dollars. Dow also argued that Perlitz’s community was 2,000 miles away in Haiti, so therefore Perlitz was no danger to the Fairfield community. Dow also said that the government has no tangible evidence and that this is a “credibility case.”
He painted a picture of Project Pierre Tousaint turning into a “Hatfield-McCoy situation” in which the group split over the allegations against Perlitz. He also noted that the Haitian National Police interrogated the boys, and according to a U.S. government study, the HNP is underfunded, under-trained and unreliable.
Dow also proposed that Perlitz be released to a third party custodian. Anthony and Mary Sirianni of Fairfield have offered to house Perlitz and monitor him if he should be released before his trial. He also proposed that Thomas Tisdale ‘78, a Southport lawyer and former board member of the Haiti Fund, could hire Perlitz on a limited basis until his trial. He finally argued that housing Perlitz in Rhode Island until his trial would interfere with his 6th Amendment right to counsel because contact with his attorneys would be limited at such a far distance.
An officer for the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System also recommended Perlitz be released. He thought the financial package was sufficient and that while “it isn’t a perfect system, but it’s the most reliable and the risk can be minimized.”
Patel had numerous problems with this proposal for Perlitz’s release. She wanted to make sure that Perlitz has no contact with potential witnesses or anyone involved in the trial, including all board members, some of whom “engaged in conduct of a very disturbing nature,” according to Patel.
At the hearing, Patel also questioned Mary Sirianni, the woman who offered to house Perlitz should he be released. Sirianni is a registered nurse while her husband, Anthony, is a wheelchair-bound retired lawyer with multiple sclerosis. Sirianni said she is receiving no compensation for offering to house Perlitz and that she and her husband were looking for a way to give back to the community. She admitted that she knew the Tisdales, who support Perlitz’s innocence, and that she met Perlitz once for 10 minutes at a birthday party. She also said that she had spoken to Fr. Paul Carrier, S.J. multiple times.
After an hour and twenty minutes of debate, U.S. Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis continued the hearing to Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. She also indicated that it is likely Perlitz will be released on bail, but with substantially more money involved, most likely between $4-5 million. She also wants more third-party custodians. The government will question all third-party individuals as well to ensure they have no connection to the Haiti Fund.
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled for Dec. 2.
Jesuits break silence
Since a Bridgeport jury returned an indictment for Doug Perlitz ‘92 on Sept. 15, questions have arisen about the role of Carrier, the former director of campus ministry. The indictment refers to “a religious leader, who had met and befriended Perlitz while Perlitz attended college in Connecticut and who frequently communicated with and visited Perlitz in Haiti.” This religious leader chose the board members of the Haiti Fund, which operated as the fund-raising arm of the charity and raised large sums of money.
“The Society has been in direct contact with the U.S. Attorney’s office and has informed that office of Father Carrier’s whereabouts, ”the Society of Jesus said in an e-mail sent to the Connecticut Post by Kelly Lynch, a spokesman for the Jesuits. “The Society is cooperating fully with law enforcement in the investigation.”
Lynch also said that Carrier “currently has no assignment and is not performing any public ministry.”
When questioning Siranni, Patel asked if she knew Carrier, and during an objection, Dow said that “the government is extremely interested in him.” The U.S. Attorneys office would only say that the investigation is ongoing and they could not comment.
Forwarded By Ezili's Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
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