The middlesex county district attorney's office says woburn police notified them about the allegations, and are investigating. THE STUDENTS INVOLVED HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. "I urge patience as we are all eager to view the results, myself included.". April 14, 2022, 10:11 p.m. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. "They haven't given my son or even us any support whatsoever," Kevin Coucelos said. Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved., Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said in a statement shared on Facebook Wednesday night that he was alarmed, concerned, and frankly disgusted by the video and that this can never be allowed to occur again., He said the boys involved in the incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team., I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation, he said in the statement. A hazing investigation at Woburn Memorial High School has led to charges against seven high school students. They have known for years they have a bully coaching our kids and they havent done anything to stop him, Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father, said. "On Wednesday, Oct. 13, the Woburn Police Department received a complaint involving members of a Woburn High School sports team regarding an incident earlier in the school year. The statement issued by Police Chief Robert Rufo, Mayor Scott Galvin and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Crowley did not state the nature of the complaint or the specific team, but WCVB reports that officials are investigating whether a teenage member of the football program was hazed and sexually assaulted. Haverhill High School students who saw the video said the lewd acts shown on that video happened in the locker room of the school's football stadium, Trinity Stadium. While arraignments have begun in Lowell Juvenile Court for seven Woburn students, including five football players, charged with assaulting Coucelos, his parents say the report underscores that Woburn school officials head football coach Jack Belcher, athletic director Jim Duran, and principal Jessica Callanan, among them failed to adequately protect their son. And in Woburn, police are "investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team." It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. ", Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. display: none; Peter Hahn, the attorney representing the Couceles family, said five high school students are facing charges for assault and battery for the September incident. Two other Woburn students allegedly accosted Coucelos later, he said. With Haverhill forfeiting the contest, Lowell will finish the season with a 4-7 record. That message from Police Chief Robert Rufo, Mayor Scott Galvin and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Crowley comes one day after sources told NewsCenter 5 that police are investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. In 13 seasons there, Belcher went 78-63 and was named the Globes coach of the year in 2008, after guiding his team to a 10-2 record and the league title. But former players and parents allege bullying became routine under Belcher, who has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. THE MAYOR GOES ON TO SAY IM CONCERNED THIS HAPPENED, AND CONCERNED BY REPORTS THAT OTHER STUDENTS STOOD BY AND DID NOT INTERVENE. A hearing is scheduled before the Supreme Judicial Court in April on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Associations appeal of a lower court injunction that permitted the former Woburn player to compete this year for another MIAA schools football and basketball teams after the MIAA denied his waiver request for a fifth year of eligibility. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. >> WANT TO GET STUDENTS -- STUDENT ATHLETES AND ADULT LEADERS IN A ROOM AND START TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BEAT HUMAN BEINGS. Hearing In Woburn Football Assault Case Postponed The probable cause hearing initially scheduled for Tuesday will not take place until March, the attorney for the #ada-button-frame { On Sept. 25, 2018, three years to the day before the Coucelos incident, a 15-year-old Woburn player was kicked so hard in the head by a teammate that he stumbled, dazed, from the practice field and vomited, he stated in a civil case pending before the state Supreme Judicial Court. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.. In response, Woburn school superintendent Matt Crowley issued a statement that said, I was informed by the High School administration that there was one allegation of bullying made against Coach Jack Belcher. After News Of Anti-Semitism On Duxburys Football Team, Where Does The Town Go From Here? The student who grabbed him in the classroom, he said, was a former Woburn football player. We hadnt been winning a lot of games and I thought he might turn things around.. His complaint says Belcher witnessed the incident but reprimanded neither the assailant nor numerous players who taunted the alleged victim with vulgarities, insinuating he was soft.. The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. A family in Woburn, Massachusetts, wants to see justice served when it comes to the teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. Parents of the boy who allegedly was kicked in 2018 also faulted the school administration. "I understand that there have been strong reactions to this situation and appreciate there is a deep desire for as much information as possible regarding the incident and the school districts response," Crowley wrote. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. There was little to no supervision in the locker room, he said. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. The family also asked Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association to take action against Woburn school officials for allegedly violating MIAA rules on hazing, fighting, and sportsmanship, among others. I also told the principal, who didnt stop him.. "On Wednesday, Oct. 13, the Woburn Police Department received a complaint involving members of a Woburn High School sports team regarding an incident earlier in the school year. An alleged hazing incident is under investigation at the high school in Woburn, Massachusetts. Nelson also determined the groping did not meet the narrow definitions of sexual misconduct under the Title IX law. But the abuse continued, according to their complaint, and in 2019 the parents submitted a 10-page report to Callanan detailing additional bullying their son had endured from Belcher and from his teammates at Belchers alleged direction. PARENTS ARE NOW REVISITING BASIC RIGHTS AND WRONGSAT HOME. It's not good for our school. A Woburn police detective has been assigned to the case. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.". Support GBH. It was very nasty. Woburn school officials were aware of alleged bullying in the high school football program for several years before 14-year-old freshman Johnathan Coucelos was attacked by a swarm of teammates in the locker room last fall, according to court records and interviews with former players and parents. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. Two more students face charges for subsequent harassment in the weeks after the assault in the locker room. While school officials told the Globe their response was "comprehensive and thorough" and the DA's Office said there is an ongoing investigation, the family said it is outraged at what they say was relatively light school discipline against the football players involved in the assault and the lack of any criminal charges at those they say are responsible for the assault and ensuing harassment. Now, police are filing criminal charges against seven students accused of the assault. WE HAVE BLURRED THE LEWD AND VIOLENT SCENEAT LEAST ONE PERSON -- SCENE. Listen Live: Classic and Contemporary Celtic, Listen Live: Cape, Coast and Islands NPR Station, A reporter's indulgence no longer a secret The NBA's Damian Lillard made me a fan, Pandemic food assistance that held back hunger comes to an end, The March Drop: Stay on the move with Oscar reels and roller derbies, MIT takes steps to stop foreign espionage, but some faculty say it goes too far, Bostons police oversight office has yet to uphold a single civilian complaint. An investigation into that incident found players violated the school and athletic code of conduct, but that the actions did not legally rise to the level of bullying or hazing. Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. He should have been fired., The Globe asked Belcher and other school officials to comment. Breaking News The two teams were scheduled to play in Haverhill at 10 a.m., the time all high-school games are played on that season-ending day for most teams. The middlesex county district attorney's office The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office also said they were notified about the allegations by police and are participating in the investigation. racial slurs and engaging in homophobic hazing, Danvers High wrestling program was suspended. Belcher, as the head coach, is responsible for the programs culture, according to specialists in student-athlete safety. One tradition put on hold, while another continues, exposing vulnerable youngsters to physical and emotional harm. Coaches are, by policy, considered responsible for safeguarding student-athletes against any form of abuse. There should be a lot more charges," he said. Full statement: "On Wednesday, Oct. 13, the Woburn Police Department received a complaint involving members of a Woburn High School sports team regarding an incident earlier in the school year. Haverhill High School is shutting down all football activities, canceling all future practices and forfeiting the Thanksgiving Day game, due to an alleged hazing incident involving some members of the school's team. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He said one punched him several times in a school bathroom, and the other entered his Spanish classroom, grabbed him by the shirt, and warned him not to snitch. Belcher told Hanley he had left the building before the incident. >> WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE VIDEO? It's really not a bad school.". He played two seasons for the Breakers after they moved to New Orleans and Portland. The Globe does not identify victims of alleged sexual assaults unless they give their consent. Wilson said he wasnt surprised by news of bullying in Belchers program. WOBURN SENIOR FOOTBALL CAPTAINS (l-r) Derek Dabrieo, Jake Daniell, Derek Baccari, Anthony Palmieri and Yahya Aksadi. Join us. 2 Player of the Year, High school roundup: Vinny D'Urso, Lowell Catholic blank Haverhill, 1-0, MVC boys basketball: Tewksbury's Ryan Cuvier named Div. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Four days later, they stated, Callanan told them she had addressed the issue, without explaining how. And at some point, he had to leave the school for his safety. "The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved. "The school official, superintendent, the principal, vice principal, coaches they all should [face] consequences.. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. The 60-page report includes statements by Chase Andrews, the first-year volunteer assistant who was 23 at the time, and head freshman coach Chris Scichilone that they were not formally trained about hazing before Coucelos was accosted. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. This content is imported from Facebook. I wish to be unequivocal in the fact that I join every member of the WPS administration in condemning physical and sexual violence in all forms," Crowley said. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. "Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form," the message reads. I want to cry every time I see that. In a statement shared Wednesday evening, Fiorentini said he received a call from Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta, briefing him on a hazing incident at the high school. I urge all people involved to cooperate completely with the investigators so that the best and most just outcome can be reached. ""The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. The Couceles family reported the assault to police in October. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. Run by Black journalists at The Boston Globe, Black News Hour, a new radio program, delivers reliable news that connects with our community and expands on deeper issues impacting our city. The remaining coaches reported hearing nothing unusual from their offices near the locker room, despite the loud commotion, which numerous players recorded. The investigation found Coucelos also was assaulted in his Spanish classroom by a former football player who accused him of snitching and was punched in a school bathroom by a student who chided him for not defending himself more forcefully during the locker room assault. But that disappointment pales in comparison to the disturbing allegations leveled at members of the Haverhill High School football team. "We wish to state, without reservation, that the Woburn Public Schools took this matter seriously as soon as we learned about it and that our response was comprehensive and thorough.". "We are committed to a thorough, multifaceted fact finding operation, and we pledge to be forthcoming regarding the results of those investigations and to enact their findings and recommendations., "As these investigations remain active and ongoing, we will continue to allow that process to unfold," he added. Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. The student said he felt ill and experienced a lingering headache, but he did not seek treatment from the team athletic trainer for fear of being further characterized as weak. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. I think the parents need to take action. Unlike Callanan, who told Hanley she feels terrible for Johnathan, Belcher expressed less empathy, saying he was aware of Coucelos before the attack in a negative way, as a pain in the neck or wise-guy.. Woburn school officials were aware of alleged bullying in the high school football program for several years before 14-year-old freshman Johnathan Coucelos was attacked by a swarm of teammates in the locker room last fall, according to court records and interviews with former players and parents. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. It was very nasty. Editorial: Put sports hazing out of its misery, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Editorial: Sports betting rollout still ironing out kinks, Editorial: Give localities control over age to vote, Editorial: DNA sleuth tracks down suspects, kin, Seeing orbs in photos? The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. He is a good person that cares tremendously for us.. It was disgusting. I don't think any town or any school is immune from it. "As these matters concern allegations involving minors, there was and remains much we cannot say publicly about this situation," Crowley said. Hanley found the team assault was planned, organized, and executed by a substantial number of sophomore players. One player said he punched Coucelos multiple times after the sophomores like 30 kids decided to beat up Johnathan.. Woburn likes to cover things up, said Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father and a lifelong resident. Woburn, MA Police are pursuing criminal charges against seven students at Woburn Memorial High School after a freshman football player, 14-year-old Johnathan It's not good. Hire A Woburn Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. "The only game left on the 2022 Haverhill High football schedule was the Thanksgiving rivalry game against Lowell High School.The Haverhill School Committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. Crowley said they have reached out to the Couceles family. Its shocking that there still have been no repercussions for anyone in the athletic department, said Peter Hahn, the Coucelos familys attorney. Detective assigned to investigate allegations of hazing involving Woburn High School sports team. Belcher also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS TRYING TO PULL OFF CLOTHING FROM ANOTHER YOUNG MAN AND LATER ENDS UP ON TOP OF THE ALLEGED HAZING VICTIM. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta notified parents Wednesday that the school department is looking into misconduct involving some members of the high school football team. Woburn High made no substantive efforts to curtail the bullying, they stated. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has said they have been notified of the incident by woburn police. "As your superintendent I promise that the standards we will set for ourselves, our sports programs and how we are to treat one another will be of paramount importance as we continue to move through this process and learn all the facts and circumstances," Crowley wrote. In April, seven Woburn High School students were charged after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates in September 2021. The 25 new centers are expected to ease the burden on emergency rooms for patients with behavioral health crises. WOBURN, MA The family of a Woburn 14-year-old who said he was threatened, punched and sexually assaulted in a school locker room is criticizing Woburn Public Schools, Woburn police and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office for lack of action on the incidents, according to a Boston Globe report. The committee will likely go into an executive session in order to determine the next steps that should be taken in the hazing investigation.In April, seven Woburn High School students were charged after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates in September 2021. ", Watch: Woburn High School accused of ignoring allegations of bullying. How many examples of this appalling behavior will it take to preempt the next hazers in waiting? "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. 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