All seven face single counts of assault and battery, while one also is charged with indecent assault and battery for allegedly grabbing Couceloss genitals. 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. That week, the Woburn Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney announced they were investigating the incident. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. Two other Woburn students allegedly accosted Coucelos later, he said. The remaining coaches reported hearing nothing unusual from their offices near the locker room, despite the loud commotion, which numerous players recorded. The Rams released him in training camp before he was drafted by the Boston Breakers of the fledgling United States Football League. "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. He added, "I used to wake up and go out with half of my friends and now I'm just locked up in my room and finally going into a different 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. 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. display: none; He was attacked in the bathroom. "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. "They haven't given my son or even us any support whatsoever," Kevin Coucelos said. Attempts to reach Belcher, Duran, and Andrews were unsuccessful. All rights reserved (About Us). Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment, or retaliation in any form, the school district said in the statement. Wilson said he wasnt surprised by news of bullying in Belchers program. Instead, Belcher instructed the traumatized player to return to the field for 35 more minutes of contact drills, his complaint states. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. WE HAVE BLURRED THE LEWD AND VIOLENT SCENEAT LEAST ONE PERSON -- SCENE. The player who was initially hopeful about Belcher said the team engaged in a ritual in 2019 in which one player each week got jumped by his teammates and whacked with foam rollers. Belcher also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. 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. It's really not a bad school.". "I am alarmed, concerned and frankly disgusted by what I have been told and by the video that I was shown," Fiorentini said in a statement Wednesday night. Peter Hahn, the attorney representing the Couceles family, said five high school students are facing charges for assault and battery for the September incident. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. 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. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. We couldn't do it without you. 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. "Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form," the message reads. THIS IS VIDEO OF THE ALLEGED HAZING INCIDENT IN THE FOOTBALL LOCKROOM. 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. He told Hanley he took no action after Coucelos reported he was jumped because he saw no visible injuries and no need to pry further.. ""A freshman getting dragged down on the floor, them pulling down his pants and pulling down the other dude's pants and humping him in the face. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.". Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. Head football coach Jack Belcher has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. 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 One football player was accused of indecent assault for allegedly yanking down Johnathans pants and touching his genitals in the locker room episode. REPORTER: THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND LOCKER ROOM IS 10 MINUTES OFF-CAMPUS. Multiple criminal complaints have been filed against several New Jersey high school students following two probes into allegations of rampant abuse and hazing. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in connection to a hazing investigation in Woburn, Massachusetts. 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. 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. A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. "As school leaders, we acknowledge and have offered support to the student and family that had the strength to come forward to report this deeply troubling matter," the superintendent wrote. Woburn Memorial Football. ", Watch: Woburn High School accused of ignoring allegations of bullying. Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. 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. Asked to cite an inaccuracy, Callanan did not respond. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.. Four days later, they stated, Callanan told them she had addressed the issue, without explaining how. It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. Police are investigating and members of the teams coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave. Crowley said they have reached out to the Couceles family. The Globe does not identify victims of alleged sexual assaults unless they give their consent. READINGS MATT BLASI (83) reaches to make a catch before Woburns Travis Kanoni (4) can move in. I didn't like what I saw," said student Elliot Batista. "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. He allegedly was punched and struck with water bottles, as well as being indecently assaulted. The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students, the statement said. There should be a lot more charges," he said. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. 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 is my understanding that the allegation was made in 2019 and that the High School administration promptly investigated the allegation in accordance with our bullying prevention policy and procedure, and that it was not substantiated. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. 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.. And at some point, he had to leave the school for his safety. Hahn said a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lowell Juvenile Court was moved to March. While charges are pending for some students, Couceles says the coaches and school leadership should be held accountable, too. The freshman football player is seen pulling up his pants in the video. He was attacked in his Spanish class. No one ever came in and checked when things got loud or out of hand.. ", "The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. 7 students face charges in alleged Woburn HS hazing attack April 14, 2022, 10:11 PM Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old I JUST THINK ITS AWFUL. It's been a turbulent few years for the Woburn football program. Join us. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. Woburn police and the Middlesex District Attorneys office are now investigating. I want to cry every time I see that. Belcher, 60, has been familiar to many in the Woburn area since he was a three-sport star at neighboring Stoneham High School in the late 1970s. 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. 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. 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. 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. "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. display: none; Multiple investigations are being undertaken. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. "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. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are James Austin's son is on the football team. This content is imported from Facebook. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". The student who grabbed him in the classroom, he said, was a former Woburn football player. In the most disturbing incident, the parent said, her son was a freshman when four older teammates attacked him in a school hallway after Belcher allegedly encouraged stronger players to toughen up those perceived as weaker. Coucelos, fearing for his safety, has transferred to Cambridge Matignon School. In Peabody, members of the football team were disciplined last week after a video showed players unsupervised in a locker room last month using a racial slur and mimicking sexual acts. 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 High made no substantive efforts to curtail the bullying, they stated. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. 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. Contests & Promotions. Coucelos alleged he also was punched by another student on a school bus, but the investigation determined Coucelos himself was the aggressor. 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. 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