Food, shoes and in some cases, much-needed medicine have been distributed to a group of abandoned Haitian boys who claim they were sexually abused by the founder of a charitable program organized to provide them with food, shelter and an education. But it does show these boys that someone does care. She said her group is putting together small care packages which will include essentials like toothpaste and soap for the boys.
The boys are among 18 who allege that Douglas Perlitz , an honored Fairfield University graduate, sexually abused them while they were students in his three-phase Project Pierre Toussaint educational program in Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second largest city.
Money for the program was raised by the Haiti Fund , comprised of wealthy Fairfield and Westchester County Catholics and through donations obtained during Masses celebrated at Fairfield University. Perlitz has pleaded not guilty to 24 international sex charges and is awaiting an October trial in New Haven federal court. Before that will happen, U. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton must rule on a defense motion to dismiss the indictment. William F.
Dow , III and David Grudberg , Perlitz's New Haven-based defense lawyers, have attacked the indictment on jurisdictional grounds claiming the prosecution can't link any of the alleged assaults to conduct that took place in Connecticut.
Meanwhile, Assistant U. They point to the program being funded primarily with money from Fairfield County Catholics, Perlitz's travel arrangements being made here and he maintained a residence here. But it's the plight of the boys who will be brought to New Haven to testify at Perlitz's trial that is the concern of victim advocates. Now is not the time to forget them.
