I wasnt there to protect my son," Couceles shared. Crowley said in his most recent statement to the Globe that the school district also will make certain that the investigators are aware of this past, unsubstantiated allegation regarding Coach Belcher to ensure that they are provided with any and all context necessary for a full and fair investigation.. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has said they have been notified of the incident by woburn police. How many examples of this appalling behavior will it take to preempt the next hazers in waiting? racial slurs and engaging in homophobic hazing, Danvers High wrestling program was suspended. Whats more, the boy and his parents allege, school authorities failed to correct the abusive nature of Belchers coaching after they reported the incident. On Sept. 25, 2018, three years to the day It gets me emotional every time I have to talk about this.". }Customer Service. We are strictly responding to how the integrity of the team, the leadership of the athletic department and football program is unfairly under attack in the community., They stated, Head Coach Jack Belcher has always given us nothing short of his undivided attention and passion for his job as our coach and leader. Breaking News mm 34 32 Ruben high school football team on the gridiron in a friday night matchup against Melrose. Lowell staged a miraculous comeback in last year s contest, scoring 34 points in the second half to stun the Hillies, 41-36. 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. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. The 25 new centers are expected to ease the burden on emergency rooms for patients with behavioral health crises. Couceles says a student pulled down his sons pants and groped his genitals. And this has very negatively impacted both Jonathan and his parents, the whole family.. Two other Woburn students allegedly accosted Coucelos later, he said. Jessica Callanan, principal of Woburn Memorial High School said in a statement to Greater Boston, "the Coucelos familys complaint is and should be taken seriously. There is no indication in the report that the investigator, Patrick Hanley, a former state and county prosecutor, asked Belcher, Duran, or Callanan about the purported lack of training. Belcher, who with Callanan hired Andrews in 2021, remains, as does Duran, who supervises the football coaches and also is considered responsible for player safety. 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. Asked to cite an inaccuracy, Callanan did not respond. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. That week, the Woburn Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney announced they were investigating the incident. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, and the school did nothing to protect him. "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. Hahn said he provided notice to the city and school district about their intent to sue. The county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. 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. All seven face single counts of assault and battery, while one also is charged with indecent assault and battery for allegedly grabbing Couceloss genitals. We couldn't do it without you. "I lost half of my friends. Johnathan Coucelos (center) and his family have helped drive the scrutiny of Woburn's football program. With Haverhill forfeiting the contest, Lowell will finish the season with a 4-7 record. I don't think any town or any school is immune from it. "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. Warren said a formal announcement is forthcoming. I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. "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. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Hanley presented his investigative findings to Carl Nelson, a Woburn middle school principal designated as the decision maker for a federally mandated Title IX review of Couceloss sexual misconduct complaint. It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina.The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus.Police are investigating and members of the teams coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave.Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. display: none; In 1983, Belcher was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the NFL Draft. The Globe reported on Saturday that the freshman said he was attacked in a locker room and grabbed by the genitals in an incident caught on video following a September game. Some Woburn residents are upset that alleged assailants were allowed to play at Fenway in the Thanksgiving game against Winchester. I feel like parents need to be more involved and acknowledge who their kids friends are. But, the former student said, he soon became disturbed by Belchers coaching methods, which he described as abusive. "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. "He just wants to be by himself all the time. 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 Four days later, they stated, Callanan told them she had addressed the issue, without explaining how. Officials said in Saturday's statement that the incident involved a sports team and an alleged incident that occurred "earlier in the school year.". Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.. In Danvers, a member of the boys hockey program publicly accused teammates of using racial slurs and engaging in homophobic hazing with a sex toy during the 2019-2020 season. Woburn police are seeking assault charges in Lowell Juvenile Court against seven Woburn students, including five football players, for the alleged locker room attack and two subsequent incidents in which Johnathan was the alleged victim. Detective assigned to investigate allegations of hazing involving Woburn High School sports team. I want to cry every time I see that. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. Then I saw it boil over into the locker room because it caused kids to literally hate each other and fight off the field.. Coucelos, fearing for his safety, has transferred to Cambridge Matignon School. Seven Woburn students charged in alleged locker room assaults on former football player, Read the original report: After Woburn football player endures multiple alleged assaults, parents left outraged by official response. Saturday's statement did not provide details about the nature of the allegation and did not specifically mention the football team. James Austin's son is on the football team. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Its hard on all of us.. An incident serious enough to put the Haverhill football coaching staff on paid administrative leave, and initiate a probe into the matter by the citys Police Department. Police are investigating and members of the teams coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave. It was very nasty. The remaining coaches reported hearing nothing unusual from their offices near the locker room, despite the loud commotion, which numerous players recorded. One football player was accused of indecent assault for allegedly yanking down Johnathans pants and touching his genitals in the locker room episode. He left his job as a paraprofessional at the Woburn school in April. 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. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.". Hire A Woburn Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. "The school official, superintendent, the principal, vice principal, coaches they all should [face] consequences.. WE NEED TO DETERMINE HOW THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT WE CAN DO SO THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Calmer wind speeds and warmer temperatures coming soon, FIRST ALERT FORECAST: More winds and warmer temps on the way, Proposition 17: Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment. At the conclusion of the Title IX investigation, a second investigation, in the form of an administrative review and policy analysis will be conducted by a second outside agency, a firm headed by former Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett, Former State Police Colonel Kerry Gilpin and Attorney John Benzan. Woburn, MA Police are pursuing criminal charges against seven students at Woburn Memorial High School after a freshman football player, 14-year-old Johnathan The Middlesex County District Attorney's office says Woburn police notified them about the allegations and are investigating. Couceles said his wife decided to pull their son out of the Woburn school for his safety in December. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |Community Guidelines | FCC Applications | Jobs/Internships |, Daily News Updates Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team.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.The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office also said they were notified about the allegations by police and are participating in the investigation.Officials said in Saturday's statement that the incident involved a sports team and an alleged incident that occurred "earlier in the school year. AT LEAST ONE PERSON IS WEARING A HAVERHIL FOOTBALL SHIRT. Marotta said the investigation is ongoing and significant material was uncovered Wednesday, impacting the direction of the investigation and the entire school community. It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. >> WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE VIDEO? 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. 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. In one well-publicized incident of bullying last year, several members of the Woburn High School football team were eventually arraigned in Lowell Juvenile Court on charges stemming from an assault of a 14-year-old freshman player in the locker room. 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. It's not good. It was dirty. "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. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! The Couceles family reported the assault to police in October. 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