82-Year-Old Grafton Man Arraigned on Years-Old Rape Charges

An 82-year-old Grafton man faces statutory rape charges stemming from the mid-1990s, when police say his alleged victim worked with him at a horse stable and pony riding business. 

Charles M. Leffler, of 14 Fay Mountain Rd., Grafton, was arraigned in Westborough District Court Thursday on four counts of statutory rape of a child. Judge Vito Virzi released Leffler on personal recognizance, ordering him to have no contact with anyone under 16 years of age.  

According to court documents, the victim recently came forward to police and said she first met Leffler when she took riding lessons from him at a stable on Upton Street. She later worked with Leffler both there and at a business that offered pony rides. 

The report says the victim described a "grooming process" that "led to a number of incidents of indecent assault and battery as well as a number of incidents of statutory rape." 

Leffler is due back in court on Feb. 13 for a pretrial hearing.