Clare (Photo: Harvest Worship Centre International Facebook page)
NEW YORK, United States (AP) — A former New York minister has pleaded guilty to raping two teenage girls, one of whom belonged to his congregation.
Prosecutors say the Reverend Michael Clare was convicted of rape on Wednesday. Under the terms of the plea deal, he will be sentenced to five years in prison and will register as a sex offender.
Clare is from Jamaica and faces deportation. He was the pastor of the Harvest Worship Centre International in the Bronx. He admitted performing the acts with a 13-year-old girl in 2007 at his home and with a 14-year-old girl later.
Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson says in a statement the victims’ wishes were considered for the plea deal.
