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Office of the District Attorney
Bethlehem Man Found Guilty of Raping Two Teens ALBANY, NY – District Attorney P. David Soares today announced that RICHARD CLEVENSTINE, 59, of Bethlehem, NY, was found guilty after a jury trial of 11 counts including; (2) counts of Rape in the Second Degree, a Class “D” Felony, (3) counts of Rape in the Third Degree, a Class “E” Felony, (1) count of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class “E” Felony, (3) counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class “A” Misdemeanor, (1) count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class “A” Misdemeanor, and (1) count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, a Class “B” Misdemeanor in front of the Honorable Thomas Breslin. CLEVENSTINE faces a maximum of 26 years in prison when sentenced in July. Between January of 2006 and August of 2007, CLEVENSTINE repeatedly sexually abused two teenage girls. CLEVENSTINE engaged in sexual and oral intercourse with one child who was less than fifteen years old, he directed both girls to masturbate and instructed them how, and also engaged in sexually explicit dialogue by way of instant messages with both girls. CLEVENSTINE befriended the family of the two victims in order to gain their trust and then engaged in a grooming process with both girls in order to ensure their silence in committing the crimes. Assistant District Attorney’s Christina Calabrese and Shannon Sarfoh handled the prosecution of this case. For further information contact: eather Streeter Orth
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