Lynn man accused of child rape remains free

SALEM – A Lynn man accused of repeatedly raping a young girl beginning when she was age 9 in 2002 was allowed to remain free on his own personal promise to return to court, but was ordered not to have contact with his accuser or her immediate family.Rafael Morales, with addresses at 53 Estes St., Lynn and 67 Johnson St., Lynn, and also one in Medford, appeared for his arraignment Monday in Salem Superior Court, pleading innocent to two counts of rape of a child as well as a single count of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14.At the joint request of the prosecutor and defense, Judge Timothy Q. Feeley agreed to let Morales remain free on personal recognizance at this time and to return to court on Dec. 12 for a bail hearing and pretrial conference.The charges arise out of sexual misconduct with a young girl during a five-year-period dating back from Nov. 1, 2002 and between Feb. 28, 2008 when he allegedly sexually molested the girl while in a home in Lynn.The girl was age 9 when the sexual misconduct allegedly began, according to reports.Morales, a Dominican Republic native, was arrested by authorities on Broad Street in Lynn last February following an investigation.Morales faces a potential life sentence on each of the two charges of rape of a child and up to 10 years in state prison on the indecent assault and battery indictment if convicted.Assistant District Attorney Karen Hopwood is the prosecuting attorney and Mark Schmidt is the court-appointed defense attorney.