Gerald Dean Campbell, 66, of Odessa, Texas, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing eight children at an orphanage in Africa. He was a former general manager at Victory Christian Children's Home in Malawi. Jail mugshot via MySanAntonio.com

DEL RIO, Texas, May 19 (UPI) -- A Christian missionary from Texas pleaded guilty to sexually abusing eight children at an orphanage in the southeastern African country of Malawi.

Gerald Dean Campbell, 66, of Odessa, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Campbell was a former general manager at Victory Christian Children's Home in Malawi.


Campbell told law enforcement that between 1997 and 2009, he lured children into his house and sexually abused them, including one child who was "suffering from the effects of HIV." He said he sent the children money in an attempt to keep them from reporting the abuse.

"Campbell also admitted that he knew that what he was doing was wrong and that he thought nobody would believe the minors if they reported the abuse," the Justice Department said.

Charles Trombley, the co-founder for the Victory Christian Children's Home, said he is shocked.

"He will have to pay the consequences for what he did but that he can find mercy and peace with God and some kind of hope. Not a day goes by that we have not continued to pray for him," Trombley said.

Campbell's sentencing has not been scheduled.