Press Release  Hyland sentenced to state prison on rape charge

PITTSFIELD — An Otis man, found guilty May 14^th, was sentenced this afternoon in Berkshire Superior Court.  The jury deliberated for about 6 hours over a two day period before returning its verdict against 34 year old STEPHEN L. HYLAND. 

HYLAND was found guilty on one (1) count of RAPE OF A CHILD: WITH FORCE, one (1) count of INTIMIDATION OF A WITNESS OR OTHER PERSON and one (1) count of OPEN AND GROSS LEWDNESS.  Judge Maureen Hogan ordered that he serve a 7 to 9 year state prison sentence at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the charge of RAPE OF A CHILD: WITH FORCE.  HYLAND was given probation for 5 years on the other charges.  During the probationary period he is to have no contact with the victim, undergo sexual offender and mental health counseling and wear a GPS monitor.         

The incidents occurred in Otis in the summer of 2011.             

The investigation was conducted by state police detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office.     

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