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    • Twelve Tribes of Mass elder found guilty of 25 counts of rape and assault.
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    Twelve Tribes of Mass elder found guilty of 25 counts of rape and assault.

    Idris Bevan Posted on

    (This story has been updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)

    This story misrepresented Nehemya Smith’s status at his sentencing. He was convicted.

    A 37-year-old Plymouth man was sentenced to decades in prison after being convicted in September on 25 separate counts of multiple counts of child rape and indecent assault in Hyannis, Raynham and Milton, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas’ office .Quinn III.

    Nehemya Smith was sentenced Wednesday afternoon in Fall River Superior Court to 30 to 40 years in prison plus 10 years of probation, according to a spokesman.

    The charges included 12 counts of aggravated rape of a child, eight counts of indecent assault on a person over the age of 14, four counts of indecent assault on a person under the age of 14 and one count of rape.

    According to prosecutors, Smith was an “elder” of the Twelve Tribes, an international religious organization with several locations in New England. When members join, they give up their property and live together.

    “In both cases, siblings who had left the tribe contacted the police as soon as they became aware of the allegations. “Both victims were still living with their parents in the tribe when the revelations were made,” said a press release from Quinn’s office. “The sexual abuse of victim one occurred when she was 14 to 16 years old. Victim Two’s sexual abuse occurred when she was 12 to 15 years old.”

    All incidents occurred between 2016 and 2020.

    After a two-week trial in New Bedford Superior Court, a jury found Smith guilty on all 25 counts on September 3.

    The Barnstable and Norfolk County incidents were transferred to Bristol County so that all cases could be tried together.

    Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on X @zanerazz.

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    Idris Bevan
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