State Prison Sentence For Man In Boston Child Sex Abuse Case: DA

MATTAPAN — A man convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a child in Mattapan has been sentenced to state prison, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said Tuesday.

Mark McCray, 58, of Mattapan, was sentenced to up to six years in state prison on Monday, almost a week after a jury convicted him of two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14, Hayden said.

McCray is accused of sexually assaulting the victim at a Mattapan residence while the child was just 8 years old.

McCray also received a concurrent term of seven years probation where he must wear a GPS monitoring device, stay away from the victim, have no contact with any child under the age of 16, and complete sex offender treatment, the DA's office said.

The victim, a woman who is now in her 20s, told a family member about the abuse in 2018 and explained that McCray threatened her to keep her quiet.

The unnamed victim read a written statement to Judge Lang before McCray was sentenced yesterday."I have dealt with depression and anxiety because of him. This trauma has affected my mental health through my childhood and my whole life. As a result of this, I have kept my emotions and feeling bottled up for too long," she wrote of the impact of the abuse she suffered.

"Not every survivor makes the choice to come forward to law enforcement. We respect that decision. I want every survivor to know that my office is available to them," Hayden said in a statement. "It takes incredible courage for a survivor of child sexual assault to disclose their trauma."

"The survivor in this case not only disclosed the abuse to a loved one, but then to law enforcement and to a courtroom full of strangers in front of the man who stole her childhood," Hayden continued. "I'm so proud of her for the grace, courage, and strength she has shown at every step."

McCray was indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury in 2019. He is also currently facing similar charges in Plymouth County for offenses he is accused of committing in that area.

While the victims and witnesses of any crime should call 911 in an emergency, there are additional resources available to report suspected crimes against children. In Suffolk County, survivors of child abuse and exploitation and their non-offending caretakers can receive comprehensive services at the Children's Advocacy Center of Suffolk County. The CAC can be reached at 617-779-2146.

Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.