Sect leader's child molestation trial resumes

A federal judge in Brunswick is expected to rule today on two key defense motions filed in the molestation trial of Nuwaubian leader Malachi York.

York wants the judge to allow the testimony of a psychologist who has testified in other trials that victims in alleged serial child molestation cases are sometimes influenced by investigators and can therefore make false accusations.

The defense also wants the judge to let several York followers testify that they met with York's son, Jacob, who laid out a plan to frame York.

Prosecutors say York used his status as leader of the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors to molest children and enrich himself with his followers' labor at their farm in Putnam County.

The trial, which was moved to Brunswick from Macon because of pre-trial publicity, is entering its third week.