Massachusetts repeat sex offender that was let out on bail sentenced to prison after raping and beating woman in McDonald’s bathroom

BOSTON – Superior Court Judge Janet Sanders sentenced a repeat Massachusetts level 3 sex offender to 25 to 30 years in state prison for the 2018 rape of a woman in a McDonald’s bathroom, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

Sanders rejected McClinton’s request for four to five years, saying McClinton “has not shown he’s capable of living in the Commonwealth without committing crimes.” She added: “He’s a very dangerous person…he picks his victims.”

Prosecutors said McClinton, 41, locked the victim in a Dorchester McDonald’s bathroom on February 19, 2018, and raped and beat her. A jury last week convicted McClinton of aggravated rape, kidnapping and three counts of assault and battery.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of the attack. She said her anxiety has increased and she struggles with daily panic attacks.

“I feel as if Shawn McClinton tried to take my life away,” she said. “I went from having a lot of family and friends to cutting off every single relationship I had with both family and friends. Since the event I have really struggled to trust people.”

Hayden praised the victim for her courage in moving forward with the case, particularly her performance on the stand under cross-examination by McClinton, who represented himself.

“This survivor faced the ordeal of having to answer questions put forward by the person who victimized her. She did it with courage and grace. These cases are always difficult for survivors, and to see this woman face hours of questioning from the man who caused her such harm, and handle herself with such courage, was inspirational,” Hayden said.

While out on bail for the 2018 rape, McClinton was arraigned in August of 2020 on charges of aggravated rape, kidnapping for the purpose of sexual assault, strangulation and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

McClinton had been held on $15,000 bail from his arrest on February 19, 2018, on charges of kidnapping and two counts each of aggravated rape and assault and battery. He was released on July 15, 2020, when $15,000 was posted by the Massachusetts Bail Fund. The fund’s motto is “free them all” and states that they post bails for people who can’t afford to pay their own bails in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts sex offender registry shows that McClinton was convicted of rape in July of 2007 and of raping and abuse of a child in June of 1994.