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	Minister Charged with Raping Teen Bronx News January 29, 2011 http://bxnewsnet.blogspot.com/2011/01/minister-charged-with-raping-teen.html A 38-year-old minister and principal of a church affiliated school, was arraigned on an indictment that charged the defendant with first degree rape in connection with an alleged long term sexual relationship that began when the victim was 12-years-old, Bronx DA Robert T. Johnson announced. A grand jury indicted the Reverend Michael Clare, of West Harrison, New York, on charges of rape in the first and second degrees, criminal sexual act in the first degree, sexual abuse in the second degree, assault in the third degree, and endangering the welfare of a child. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Clare, the Pastor at Harvest Worship Center International at 4036 White Plains Road, and Principal of the Harvest Preparatory Academy, is facing a maximum sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment if convicted of the top charge in the indictment, rape in the first degree, a Class B felony offense. The alleged crimes occurred beginning on April 1, 2006, several months before the victim’s 13th birthday, and continued for more than three and a half years, through January 2, 2010 when the victim was 16-years-old. Clare was arrested last June 14, 2010 after the young girl disclosed the alleged incidents to her family and notified police. He initially was charged with rape in the second degree and other offenses, and was released on bail of $20,000 cash or $10,000 bond. The grand jury subsequently elevated the charges against Clare to include the more serious offense of rape in the first degree and at the arraignment on the indictment Acting State Supreme Court Justice Doris Gonzalez raised the bail to $50,000 cash or $25,000 bond. The increase, on the People’s application, was granted after the court was told that DNA evidence had linked the defendant to the victim who had become pregnant at 15. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elizabeth Brandon and Kimberley Burgess Capers, Deputy Chief of the Child Abuse / Sex Crimes Bureau.
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