Israeli cult leader sentenced to 26 years for abuse

An Israeli man convicted of imprisoning and sexually abusing six women and dozens of children was sentenced to 26 years in prison Thursday. The Jerusalem District Court ruled the man, identified only as D., must also pay his victims $28,255. Prosecutors described D. as the head of a "sadistic cult," into which he lured women before enslaving them and their children in his homes in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Tiberias, Ynetnews.com reported. D., along with an assistant, were convicted in May on a series of charges related to sexual offense, violence, imprisonment in conditions of slavery and abuse of women and dozens of minors. D. sexually abused his prisoners, even his own children, the news website said. The assistant was sentenced to six years in prison.