Lowell Man Guilty For Rape and Indecent Assault and Battery

WOBURN- Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced today that a Lowell man has been convicted by a jury in connection with a Lowell sexual assault.

Charles Shanley, 53, of Lowell, was found guilty by a Middlesex Superior Court jury on charges of rape (two counts), and indecent assault and battery. The defendant is scheduled for trial on related charges of the subsequent offense of rape and of being a habitual offender (three counts) on August 11 at 2pm in Middlesex Superior Court.  Sentencing is expected to follow trial on those charges.

“With this verdict, the defendant has been held accountable for his violent behavior,” District Attorney Ryan said. “Perpetrators of sexual violence often manipulate victims to foster a false sense of trust between them.  In this case, the defendant convinced the victim that he was trustworthy, then lured her to a motel room where he forcefully sexually assaulted her.”

According to authorities, on May 23, 2013 the 23-year-old victim agreed to take a ride with the defendant, whom she had met once before through a mutual friend.  During that first encounter, the defendant tried to impress the victim that he was “a nice guy” and that he wouldn’t do anything to make her feel uncomfortable.  On this day, as they drove around, the defendant encouraged the victim to have a drink with him and then drove to a motel in Tewksbury where he had rented a room. Once inside the motel room, the defendant immediately became angry and aggressive with the victim and then forcefully assaulted her. The victim fled the motel and reported the incident the following day.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Kontz. The Victim Witness Advocate is Kristen Chamberlain.