Relative drove to different state and raped 14-year-old, MA officials say

A 46-year-old man is going to prison after being accused of raping his 14-year-old relative, Massachusetts officials said.

In August 2021, Cheldon Clare drove about 260 miles northeast from his home in New Jersey to his 14-year-old family member’s home in Hyannis and sexually assaulted her in his car, according to a Sept. 9 news release by the Cape and Islands District Attorney.

An investigation revealed Clare had been grooming the teen for a month before the sexual assault, prosecutors said.

Detectives also found Clare’s DNA on the girl’s pants, prosecutors said.

After a 6-day trial and an over 2-hour deliberation, Clare was found guilty on charges of aggravated rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, prosecutors said.

He was sentenced to 12 to 14 years in prison, five years of probation and must register as a sex offender, officials said.

Hyannis is about a 70-mile drive southeast from Boston.

This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Relative drove to different state and raped 14-year-old, MA officials say."