On Friday August 6, 2021, Raheim Clay aka “Juicy” (dob: 3/30/1981), a resident of Schenectady, pled guilty to: one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C violent felony, for possessing a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver and one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D violent felony for being twenty-one [21] or older and subjecting a female child under the age of thirteen [13] to sexual contact.
The above pleas resolved a pending ten [10] count indictment against Mr. Clay. Between February and June of 2020, the defendant directed age inappropriate behavior towards the primary victim, a twelve [12] year old girl, and her fifteen-year-old sister [15]. The defendant sold or gave marijuana to the twelve-year-old female on at least five [5] separate occasions. In addition, the defendant provided alcohol to both the girls on two separate occasions. With respect to the twelve [12] year old girl, on two separate occasions he touched her in a sexual manner. In pleading to the count of Sexual Abuse, Mr. Clay admitted that he invited the child into his residence, provided her with alcohol, and fondled her. These girls were not well known to Mr. Clay, and the relationship was fostered by him for the purpose of victimizing the children. After the children disclosed the abuse by Mr. Clay to the Schenectady Police Department, the detectives working on the case sought corroborative evidence in Mr. Clay’s residence. While searching the residence, the loaded .38 Smith and Wesson was found hidden in Mr. Clay’s bedroom closest.
The case was investigated by members of Schenectady County Child Protective Services and Det. Matthew Thorne, then a member of the Schenectady Police Department’s Youth Aid Bureau, a unit of detectives specifically, tasked and trained to investigate crimes involving children. Det. Thorne was assisted by Det. Sgt. PJ Mullens, a GIVE detective for the Schenectady Police Department. GIVE stands for Gun Involved Violence Elimination, a New York State program that funds police departments to engage in gun interdiction.
Mr. Clay will receive sentences that result in ten (10) years of incarceration followed by a fifteen (15) year period of post-release supervision. In addition, Mr. Clay will be required to register as a sex offender and a full order of protection will be issued for the victims. The plea was presided over by Acting Schenectady County Court Judge, Hon. Mark J. Caruso. Judge Caruso is expected to sentence Mr. Clay to the agreed upon terms on October 8, 2021.
The People are represented by Assistant District Attorney John J. Carson. Mr. Clay is represented by Schenectady County Conflict Defender Tracey Chance. For further information contact Assistant District Attorney John J. Carson at 518-810-7365.