A Plymouth man who was an “elder” with an international religious-based organization, was sentenced to decades in state prison after being convicted on child sexual abuse and assault charges last month, prosecutors said.
Nehemya Smith, 37, was convicted of the rape and assault of two teen girls who were members of the organization, known as Twelve Tribes, in Raynham, Hyannis and Milton, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced. He will serve between 30 and 40 years in prison.
When members join Twelve Tribes, which has multiple locations in New England, they give up their possessions and live in a communal setting, according to Quinn’s office. Siblings of the girls Smith assaulted, who had left the organization, contacted police when they became aware of the abuse. The two teen girls were still living with their parents in the tribe when the abuse was reported.
