BOSTON, May 9, 2018—A man who raped and trafficked a teenaged relative was sentenced to life in prison today following his conviction for what Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley called “one of the most disturbing cases I’ve encountered in my career as a prosecutor.”

A Suffolk Superior Court jury on Monday convicted DELACY MORRIS, 46, of one count of trafficking a person under 18 for sexual servitude and three counts each of rape, incest, and indecent assault and battery. Today, Suffolk Superior Court Christopher Muse found that Morris qualified for sentencing enhancements as a repeat offender given his conviction for a 2000 aggravated rape. Morris was sentenced to 15 years in prison on that conviction.

At the request of Assistant District Attorney Nicole Poirier of the DA’s Human Trafficking & Exploitation Unit, Muse sentenced Morris to concurrent life terms on the trafficking conviction and two of the rape convictions. He additionally sentenced Morris to a term of 30 to 40 years on the third rape conviction, 20 years on the incest convictions, five years in state prison on two of the indecent assault and battery convictions, and 30 years of probation on the third indecent assault and battery conviction.

“The terms of this sentence are entirely appropriate to the magnitude of the crimes,” Conley said. “They represent the very worst kind of betrayal and exploitation. The victim can count on our support moving forward in her life, and every survivor of sexual assault and human trafficking should feel safe coming to us for help.”

Poirier proved that Morris was aware that the victim had been prostituted during 2016; that he repeatedly sexually assaulted her that fall; and that he encouraged her to engage in sexual activity for money. Poirier introduced evidence that he attempted to exploit her on backpage.com and ultimately made her available to other individuals who trafficked her in exchange for a portion of the profits.

Sexual assault can happen to anyone. While the victims of any crime are asked to call 911 in an emergency, survivors of sexual violence can also call their local rape crisis center for free and confidential services and to discuss their options. Support is available for all survivors of sexual violence, regardless of whether they wish to take part in a criminal prosecution. Services by city and town can be found through Jane Doe Inc. at www.janedoe.org/find_help/search. Jane Doe Inc. is a coalition of 60 local member programs working together to find lasting solutions that promote the safety, liberty, and dignity for victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

In Suffolk County, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers a free and confidential 24-hour hotline at 800-841-8371. The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center provides medical accompaniment and many other free services to victims of rape and sexual assault. Suffolk victim-witness advocates can assist in referrals to BARCC and a wide array of non-profit service providers who can offer additional support and services.

Kate Lagana was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.