Bronx Minister Charged With Having Sex With Minor

NEW YORK (AP) -- A Bronx minister has been charged with having a yearslong sexual relationship with a young girl who attended his storefront church.

Prosecutors say the Rev. Michael Clare has been indicted on first-degree rape and other charges. The pastor at Harvest Worship Center is being held on $50,000 bail. His lawyer's name was not immediately available.

Clare was arrested in June after the girl told her family about the relationship. He was originally charged with second-degree rape, but a grand jury increased the charges Friday.

Prosecutors say the sexual relationship began in 2006 when the girl was 12 and ended when the girl was 16. They say she became pregnant at 15 and DNA evidence linked the baby to Clare.

Clare faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

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