By David Sharp, The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine - Jurors in a federal defamation lawsuit are hearing from former orphans who say an orphanage founder in Haiti abused them when they were boys.
Michael Geilenfeld, the founder of St. Joseph's Home for Boys in Port-au-Prince, and U.S. charity Hearts with Haiti have sued a Maine activist who also is leveling molestation accusations against Geilenfeld.
Geilenfeld contends he never abused children. The North Carolina-based charity says the false accusations have cost it more than $2 million in donations. Paul Kendrick of Freeport, the subject of the defamation lawsuit, insists the allegations are true.
On Thursday, a man now living in the Boston area testified he was grateful as a teen to get clean clothes, food and shelter at Geilenfeld's orphanage. The man said Geilenfeld later sexually abused him.