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  Accused Man to Remain in Custody

By Randall Beach
New Haven Register
October 29, 2009

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/10/29/news/a3-haiticase.txt

NEW HAVEN — Attorneys for a former state resident accused of sexually abusing nine boys in Haiti were unable to win his release from custody Wednesday, as federal prosecutors maintained he would be “a danger to the community.”

Douglas Perlitz, 39, formerly of Fairfield, is awaiting trial on allegations he molested boys at the school he founded in Cap-Haitien.

Prosecutors Tuesday filed a supplemental memorandum supporting their motion to keep Perlitz incarcerated, charging he used his computer while in the U.S. to search for boys.

U.S. Magistrate Joan Margolis made no rulings Wednesday, agreeing to a request by Perlitz’ attorney, William Dow III, for a continuance until a more complete bond package can be assembled. The next court date is Dec. 2.

Perlitz has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. After court adjourned Wednesday, Dow said the computer-use allegations are unfounded.

In earlier documents, prosecutors charged Perlitz enticed children at his Project Pierre Toussaint School into sex acts by promising them food, shelter, cash, cell phones, electronics and shoes.

Court filings say Perlitz admitted “some boundaries were crossed” when boys stayed overnight in his room, but denied having had sexual contact with them.

While arguing for a bond agreement and electronic monitoring, Dow said at an earlier hearing, “There’s no evidence, no claim that anyone in the United States has been endangered by my client. 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.”

But in their memorandum this week, U.S. Attorney Nora Dannehy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Krishna Patel said a preliminary analysis indicated user “Douglas Christian” (Perlitz’ first and middle names) used his Colorado computer from last June until his September arrest conducting searches for “gay black boys.”

Prosecutors also cited initial findings indicating Perlitz accessed forum pages where people could arrange meetings and identify “cruising places.”

The prosecutors’ memorandum further alleged Perlitz wired money to individuals in Haiti “which the government believes was done to buy the silence of additional children.”

Dow said those charges are “absolutely not true.”

Prosecutors say the nine children are willing to come to the U.S. to testify against Perlitz, and most of them have provided videotaped statements.

Prosecutors also asserted allegations of abuse were corroborated by Haitian police and a separate agency hired by The Haiti Fund Inc.

Speaking outside the courtroom, Dow said he and Grudberg need more time to comply with “an extraordinary bond package requirement.”

Randall Beach can be reached at rbeach@nhregister.com or 789-5766.

 
 

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