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. Several media outlets have reported on a video, posted to Boston 25, allegedly showing members of the football team hazing a teenage boy. KYMA/CBS 13/KECY is an equal opportunity employer. }Customer Service. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. Support GBH. Hahn said a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lowell Juvenile Court was moved to March. The student who grabbed him in the classroom, he said, was a former Woburn football player. 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. "I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation. "It was gross. Some Woburn residents are upset that alleged assailants were allowed to play at Fenway in the Thanksgiving game against Winchester. Now, police are filing criminal charges against seven students accused of the assault. 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. WE NEED TO DETERMINE HOW THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT WE CAN DO SO THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. READINGS MATT BLASI (83) reaches to make a catch before Woburns Travis Kanoni (4) can move in. 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. Hazing Charges Hit Woburn High Football Program The family of a freshman player said the 14-year-old was threatened, punched and sexually assaulted in "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". "It's just so wrong how they're handling it. They explicitly and repeatedly informed the players of those prohibitions both prior to and subsequent to the [attack]., Crowleys assertion appears contrary to head freshman coach Chris Scichilones statement in the investigative report that training related to hazing or Title IX only occurred after the incident and Andrewss statement that he did not receive any formal training with respect to hazing until after the incident.. 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. Warren said a formal announcement is forthcoming. It's a shame. 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 Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. "Very heartbroken.. AT LEAST ONE PERSON IS WEARING A HAVERHIL FOOTBALL SHIRT. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. I want to cry every time I see that. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. THE STUDENTS INVOLVED HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. The middlesex county district attorney's office The former Woburn player asserted the waiver was warranted in part because of the trauma he allegedly endured in Belchers program. I didn't like what I saw," said student Elliot Batista. 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. The family, meanwhile, is asking a judge to review a Woburn District Court clerk magistrates decision to reject applications for criminal complaints against Callanan and Woburn Detective Edward Fumicello, the school resource officer, for allegedly allowing video surveillance footage of the hallway outside the locker room and coachs offices to be deleted after they viewed the recording, despite an ongoing investigation. He should have been fired., The Globe asked Belcher and other school officials to comment. I told Belcher hes an adult bully and shouldnt be coaching anybodys kids, the parent said. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. 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.. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. 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. WE HAVE BLURRED THE LEWD AND VIOLENT SCENEAT LEAST ONE PERSON -- SCENE. 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. 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. One football player was accused of indecent assault for allegedly yanking down Johnathans pants and touching his genitals in the locker room episode. >> I DONT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH KIDS TODAY. 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. An alleged hazing incident is under investigation at the high school in Woburn, Massachusetts. 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 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. Contests & Promotions. 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. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. 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. Two more students face charges for subsequent harassment in the weeks after the assault in the locker room. 2 Player of Year, Two men arrested on firearms, drug trafficking charges in Tewksbury, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds. Something needs to be said, something to be done. One has an additional "indecent assault and battery" charge. 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. How will the Mass. Web7 students face charges in alleged Woburn HS hazing attack 2,940 views Apr 14, 2022 Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football Morning Weather The moments before were obstructed from view by the crowd gathered around. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |Community Guidelines | FCC Applications | Jobs/Internships |, Daily News Updates 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, We couldn't do it without you. His parents made that decision to withdraw him from the school because it was no longer safe for him to be there. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. Three years later, he became the head coach at Bedford High School. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. The family is asking for accountability from the school. At BC, he was a 6-foot-4-inch, 270-pound football center and team cocaptain under coach Jack Bicknell, snapping the ball to quarterback Doug Flutie. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. THIS IS VIDEO OF THE ALLEGED HAZING INCIDENT IN THE FOOTBALL LOCKROOM. Asked to cite an inaccuracy, Callanan did not respond. This content is imported from Facebook. REPORTER: THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND LOCKER ROOM IS 10 MINUTES OFF-CAMPUS. 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. I didn't like what I saw," said student Elliot Batista. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in connection to a hazing investigation in Woburn, Massachusetts. "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. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. Callanan hired him in 2017 to succeed Woburns legendary coach, Rocky Nelson, and a former student who played in three of Belchers first four years at Woburn said, My first impression of him was positive. 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. 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. "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. Student leaders of the Woburn team took a stand in recent days supporting Belcher. Peter Hahn, the attorney representing the Couceles family, said five high school students are facing charges for assault and battery for the September incident. Kevin Couceles says cellphone video shared on social media shows his then 14-year-old son being assaulted in the locker room after a football game last 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. "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 report said the freshman was then harassed for months both physically and through text messages, leading to him dropping out of school out of fear for his own safety. 2023 by KYMA / NPG of Yuma-El Centro Broadcasting. 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. A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. "We acknowledge and support the student and family that had the strength to come forward to report this deeply troubling matter," Woburn Superintendent of Schools Matt Crowley told the Globe. He instills hard work, with strict rules, respect for team members and respect for adults at all times. 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 "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.". Couceles said his wife decided to pull their son out of the Woburn school for his safety in December. Multiple investigations are being undertaken. 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 was disgusting. 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. It was dirty. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. REPORTER: THEY ARE KICKING OFF THAT PROGRAM DECEMBER 8, EVOLVING -- INVOLVING THE MASS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS AND SOCIETY GROUP. It's not good. display: none; 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. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved. >> WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE VIDEO? 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