Michael Clare, Bronx pastor charged with raping, impregnating 12-year-old girl, rejects plea deal
DAILY NEWS WRITERMonday, March 21st 2011, 2:04 PM
A Bronx pastor charged with raping a 12-year-old girl from his flock turned down a "sweetheart" plea deal that came with three years in prison.
Michael Clare, 38, refused the offer from prosecutors, despite "almost irrefutable proof" he impregnated the child, said Bronx Supreme Court Justice Megan Tallmer.
"He wasn't interested," Tallmer said in court Monday.
Clare's lawyer, Paul Brenner, asked the judge to consider probation instead of prison.
"I would never do that," she snapped, citing a DNA match between Clare and the victim's aborted fetus.
Clare - the married leader of the Harvest Worship Center and principal of the associated Harvest Prep school, declined comment outside court.
Authorities learned of the alleged crimes in June, when the girl, who now 15, told her parents and police that Clare had sexually preyed on her for three years.
Clare, who is free on $50,000 bond, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of first-degree rape at trial.
Prosecutors believe he may have victimized other young churchgoers as well.
The judge said his preaching days are probably over, though, since his name would likely be added to the state sex offender registry following any plea deal.
"I don't see how he could continue his work as a pastor," Tallmer said.
Clare's lawyer said the clergyman will be vindicated at trial.
"He turned down the plea deal because he's innocent," Brenner said.
One prosecutor said that was a mistake.
"This was a sweetheart offer considering the evidence against him," the prosecutor said. "It won't get any better from here."
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2 comments:
Flesh, flesh, flesh. No, that is not an excuse for the preacher. No MAN should be messing with little girls under any circumstance. Denial that he was guilty with all the evidence saying otherwise, especially DNA, doesn't help either. I guess another question is, where were the parents when all of this was going on? It is disgusting that even if it were vicious rumor, that something like this happened. Somebody, somewhere, has not been living as a Christian ought.
WHY, WHY, WHY. Why do people allow others to handle their GOD given gifts? WHY do you get so comfortable that you can trust like that? Where were the parents for this to be happening to her? I understand that we can be over protective as parents, but I like the idea of being safe and not sorry. Again, this is a matter of leaving nothing to chance at all. As well, this is why we keep our children close to us in and out of church. I wish people would wake up and stop conforming to the way of the world and pay attention to what is happening around them. People are so quick to push their children out into this cruel world, not thinking of what the enemies are going to do to them. We must pray for this child.
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