Founder of Haitian Orphanage Arrested for Alleged Abuse

Michael Geilenfeld is accused of sexually abusing four boys from St. Joseph’s Home for Boys

The American founder of a Haitian orphanage has been arrested for allegedly abusing four boys more than a decade ago.

Michael Geilenfeld, 71, was arrested in Colorado on January 20 after being indicted in Florida on charges of engaging in sexual conduct with a person under 18. The victims were residents at St. Joseph’s Home for Boys, which works with economically disadvantaged children in and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Geilenfeld is accused of traveling from Miami to Haiti multiple times between 2010 and 2016, during which the abuse occurred. If he is convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.

In a court order signed last week, a federal magistrate judge in Denver said U.S. Marshals could take Geilenfeld to authorities in Florida to be prosecuted. This was a reversal in a decision made earlier in February by the magistrate judge, Scott Varholak. He had originally ruled that Geilenfeld could be released from federal prison to live in a halfway house in Denver.

Federal prosecutors in Florida appealed that decision, arguing that Geilenfeld had allegedly abused 20 other children in the past and he could attempt to intimidate victims if he was free. Prosecutors also assert that he is a flight risk given that any conviction would likely put him in prison for the rest of his life.

Geilenfeld was arrested by Haitian authorities in 2014 after child advocate Paul Kendrick brought allegations of abuse to authorities in Port-au-Prince. Kendrick accused Geilenfeld of abusing a number of boys involved with the boys’ home. That case was dismissed in 2015 after Geilenfeld had already spent more than 200 days in prison.

In the wake of his release, Geilenfeld and Hearts with Haiti sued Kendrick for damages and loss of donations to the orphanage. Kendrick’s insurance company ended the lawsuit when it paid $3 million to Hearts with Haiti, the organization that oversees the boys’ home. No money was paid to Geilenfeld.

Both Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are assisting federal prosecutors in their investigation of this case.

The Miami Herald reported that authorities believe there are more victims in this case, and they are asking anyone with information to step forward.

Main photo: Michael Geilenfeld / Photo courtesy of the Department of Justice

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