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‘Uncle figure’ found guilty in Cape rape of teen
The defendant was 41 years old at the time of the alleged rape, while the victim was 18, authorities say.
A Barnstable man was found guilty of rape last week for a 2015 assault of a teenage victim who considered him an “uncle figure,” authorities announced Monday.
In an unanimous verdict, Richard Reynolds, 52, was convicted on a single count of rape after a six-day jury trial and five hours of deliberations, according to a statement from the Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois.
The case originated in February 2023 when the alleged victim first reported the allegations, authorities said.
Reynolds, who was a friend of the victim’s mother and described as an “uncle figure” by the victim, allegedly took her to a home in Truro where he was working as a contractor, according to Galibois.
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Reynolds was 41 years old at the time of the alleged rape, while the victim was 18 and had been in the United States for approximately one month, Galibois said.
The case was investigated by the Truro Police Department, Wellfleet Police Department, and Barnstable Police Department. Their involvement included investigating allegations that the victim’s younger sister was also sexually abused, according to Galibois.
These additional claims are slated for later prosecution, officials said.
The victim testified in court April 22, according to court records.
“Coming forward to testify in a criminal case is never easy,” Galibois said. “Her testimony was critical in ensuring that justice was served.”
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While the case was ongoing, Reynolds’ attorney filed a document in November 2025 stating that Reynolds was facing a “humanitarian crisis” affecting his property and family in Jamaica, including his teenage daughter. Reynolds had returned to Jamaica twice without a GPS during the case’s 2024 pendency.
Following the verdict, Reynolds’ bail was revoked, and he is currently being held. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4 in the Barnstable Superior Court, Galibois said.
The case had previously gone to trial twice in 2025, but both resulted in a mistrial, according to Reynolds’ attorney.
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