The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students, the statement said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. The court is expected to decide in early March whether charges are warranted. I also told the principal, who didnt stop him.. It doesn't feel the same anymore to be out in public," he said. They stated in their civil complaint that they reported the incident to the principal, Jessica Callanan, soon after it occurred. ", 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. Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.. Wilson said he wasnt surprised by news of bullying in Belchers program. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. "As these matters concern allegations involving minors, there was and remains much we cannot say publicly about this situation," Crowley said. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. 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. Last spring, several schools across the state were faced with the emergence of hazing incidents on their athletic teams, some resulting in criminal charges against athletes and ties cut with coaches, athletic directors, and top administrators. OVERALL 7-4 0.64 Win %. 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. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. 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. 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.. (WHDH) - Seven Woburn High School students are facing assault and battery charges after they allegedly attacked a former classmate. 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. Officials said in Saturday's statement that the incident involved a sports team and an alleged incident that occurred "earlier in the school year.". Many Woburn residents have expressed anger that Belcher permitted three of the alleged assailants, including the player facing a possible indecent assault charge, to remain on the football team through a prestigious Thanksgiving week game at Fenway Park. 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. In his letter, Crowley said the incident that occurred this past September involved student athletes and included allegations of physical and sexual abuse of a student by their teammates. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. Crowley said they have reached out to the Couceles family. He said he witnessed Belcher routinely pit players against each other during practice. Woburn likes to cover things up, said Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father and a lifelong resident. I JUST THINK ITS AWFUL. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. It's not good. 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. 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 Police have assigned a detective to the case. "It was gross. 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. It was disgusting. Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are An inexperienced and ill-trained volunteer assistant football coach failed to inform his supervisors at Woburn Memorial High School after a 14-year-old freshman player, Johnathan Coucelos, reported last fall that he was jumped by teammates in a locker room, according to an independent investigators report obtained by the Globe. 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. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. No one was against it, Hanley described the player as saying. 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. 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. HOME3-3 AWAY4-0 NEUTRAL0-1. When I first saw it, I thought it was just a form of competition, he said. It was dirty. A family in Woburn, Massachusetts, wants It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. ", Watch: Woburn High School accused of ignoring allegations of bullying. Whats more, the boy and his parents allege, school authorities failed to correct the abusive nature of Belchers coaching after they reported the incident. He says there needs to be more accountability. Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. He was attacked in his Spanish class. Andrews, a 2020 graduate of Endicott College, indicated his football experience was limited to Pop Warner and high school. Woburn officials issue statement about investigation involving football team. Belcher told Hanley he had left the building before the incident. PARENTS ARE NOW REVISITING BASIC RIGHTS AND WRONGSAT HOME. The Woburn hazing accusations are the latest in a series of troubling charges of inappropriate behavior within high school athletic programs in Greater Boston. The Middlesex County District Attorney's office says Woburn police notified them about the allegations and are investigating. Two players were suspended from school for two weeks over the incident, but while one quit the team, the other continued playing football during his suspension, the family said. Belcher started his high school coaching career as an assistant at Bishop Fenwick in 2001. A Woburn school psychologists evaluation states he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, causing him significant symptoms of anxiety and depression, due to the violence he endured. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. It's really not a bad school.". The moments before were obstructed from view by the crowd gathered around. WOBURN Not many high school football teams had to start this Fall II spring football season like Woburn by playing the caliber of talent that Melrose and Reading has. 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. It was very nasty. James Austin's son is on the football team. Ten football captains six seniors and four juniors circulated a letter to news outlets, saying they were not trying to minimize any allegations that are being investigated by the proper people., In fact, we all condemn bullying of any kind, the captains wrote. April 14, 2022, 10:11 p.m. Attempts to reach Belcher, Duran, and Andrews were unsuccessful. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe. He also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. Lowell staged a miraculous comeback in last year s contest, scoring 34 points in the second half to stun the Hillies, 41-36. Coucelos, fearing for his safety, has transferred to Cambridge Matignon School. Incidents like these have no place in our community, the superintendent added. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. 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. "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. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. What happened to that boy in the locker room was heinous, said Lee Wilson, whose son Logan played for Belcher and graduated in 2020. Its also heinous that Belcher kept those kids on the team.. 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 Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students. "It's just so wrong how they're handling it. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, 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. The committee will likely go into an executive session in order to determine the next steps that should be taken in the hazing investigation. racial slurs and engaging in homophobic hazing, Danvers High wrestling program was suspended. Crowley did not provide details of the 2019 allegation. The Haverhill School Committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. 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. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. Because the investigation involves minors, both the Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office told NBC10 Boston they cannot provide information about the case. They're spirits of loved ones, Bill needs a kidney: Tyngsboro man searches for lifesaving donor, Lowell Catholic boys basketball team blows out Belchertown, No end in sight for case involving Dracut doc charged with patient's death, Toddler safe, car theft suspects apprehended, MVC girls basketball: Dracut's Ashlee Talbot named Div. The family is asking for accountability from the school. "I share in the collective shock and outrage regarding this incident.". Hes suffering, and were trying to bring him back to normal, but its going to be very hard, said Kevin Coucelos, who with his wife, Jeanny, has four school-aged children. The Coucelos family accused school officials of putting the football teams interests ahead of student safety with their disciplinary measures. But that disappointment pales in comparison to the disturbing allegations leveled at members of the Haverhill High School football team. The county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.". It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina. 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 High school students in Woburn, Massachusetts, are facing criminal charges after incidents of hazing, including one that was recorded and posted on social media after a football game last September The player alleges Woburn head coach Jack Belcher instigated the kick by encouraging older teammates to in Belchers words toughen up younger ones. It's really not a bad school. This week, the Danvers High wrestling program was suspended after an investigation into a fight that allegedly occurred over a racial slur led to the discovery of a team Snapchat group that included racist and biased language. Today and every day, I urge every member of our community to be kind to one another and do everything in their power to be part of making our community kinder and stronger. 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
