Stark County man, accused of Rwandan genocide, denied bond; he's headed to Boston
YOUNGSTOWN ‒ Family and friends of a Stark County man accused of rape and murder during the Rwandan genocide of 1994 convened at a federal courtroom with a message.
They came from Ohio, New York, Texas and Canada.
Outside the Thomas D. Lambros building on Friday, they held signs with messages such as Eric Nshimiye is a "man of virtues," "person of strong character," "family man," and "bent over backwards to help." They huddled in prayer, hugged, shook hands and shed a few tears.
Eric Nshimiye: Is Stark County family man accused of genocide this generation's John Demjanjuk?
Inside, they mostly sat in silence as a detention hearing before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Carmen E. Henderson, for the Northern District of Ohio, unfolded. The issue at hand was just a small piece of a larger legal puzzle to be continued in Boston.
Erie Nshimiye could face genocide charges in Rwanda
It's where Nshimiye was initially charged with several crimes, accused of lying about his genocide past. A warrant issued led to his arrest in Ohio on March 21 at his Lake Township home near the Uniontown area.
A federal grand jury in Massachusetts is continuing the legal process. It has indicted Nshimiye on four counts of perjury and one count each of obstructing justice; aiding and abetting and falsifying, concealing and covering up a material fact.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer told the judge Nshimiye could ultimately be sent back to Rwanda to be tried for genocide. Nshimiye agreed not to fight the return to Boston.
So the only question Friday: Should the 53-year-old married father of four be permitted to post a bond to get out of jail while awaiting trial? It would put him on the honor system to appear in court in Boston when the time comes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer told Henderson Nshimiye has lived a lie for 30 years. He said Nshimiye lied about his past to get into and remain in the U.S. He said the Goodyear Tire and Rubber engineer lied again when testified on behalf of an old Rwandan friend in 2019 ― a man convicted on some of the same charges Nshimiye now faces.
"The guarantee of him showing up ... is giving his word," Toepfer said, pointing out Nshimiye's word isn't worth much.
Nshimiye's attorney, David Johnson, a federal public defender, told the judge his client has been a model citizen for three decades. Johnson reminded her of the 70 letters the judge received from Nshimiye's friends, family, co-workers, and even his dentist, vouching for his character.
"Mr. Nshimiye is not running from the courthouse," Johnson said. "He's running to the courthouse to clear his name ... he looks forward to the day that he clears his name in court."
Judge denies bond; he'll remain behind bars
Henderson said deciding whether to keep Nshimiye in jail, or allow him to post bond included some "tricky" elements. He's presumed innocent for now. And she pointed out that the evidence before her portrayed two very different Eric Nshimiyes.
There's the version from 30 years ago who allegedly raped and killed Rwandan Tutsis with a spiked club and machete. Then there's the one who mentored kids, helped neighbors, worked hard, loved his family and never so much as raised his voice in public.
In the end, the judge went with the former version, at least for now. She said he could be a flight risk. She said the possibility of being sent back to Rwanda could be enough motivation for Nshimiye to try to disappear, as he allegedly attempted to do by coming to the U.S.
"If he has run from that thing his entire life," she said he could be tempted to do it again.
She ruled he'll remain in federal custody for now.
Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or tim.botos@cantonrep.com.On X: @tbotosREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Bond denied for Eric Nshimiye, Stark man accused of Rwandan genocide
