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. It was dirty. Peter Hahn, the attorney representing the Couceles family, said five high school students are facing charges for assault and battery for the September incident. Unfortunately, Lowells seniors wont be able to experience that joy of victory or agony of defeat. 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. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. display: none; "I urge patience as we are all eager to view the results, myself included.". CNN A high school near Pennsylvanias capital has canceled its upcoming football season over reports of hazing by members of the schools football team. What happens when providers turn to medication first? Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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 Marotta said the investigation is ongoing and significant material was uncovered Wednesday, impacting the direction of the investigation and the entire school community. "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. But conflicting witness statements prevented Nelson from establishing who groped Coucelos, he stated. Coucelos, who is 14, told Jim Braude on Greater Boston Monday that his life has changed drastically since the attack, and the harassment has not stopped. Coucelos reported the violent incidents to coaches and the police who did not take enough action. "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. Some Woburn residents are upset that alleged assailants were allowed to play at Fenway in the Thanksgiving game against Winchester. 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 I want to cry every time I see that. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. The moments before were obstructed from view by the crowd gathered around. 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. "I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation. A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.". racial slurs and engaging in homophobic hazing, Danvers High wrestling program was suspended. 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. 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. WE HAVE BLURRED THE LEWD AND VIOLENT SCENEAT LEAST ONE PERSON -- SCENE. 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. "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. Instead, Belcher instructed the traumatized player to return to the field for 35 more minutes of contact drills, his complaint states. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. 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? "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. The 25 new centers are expected to ease the burden on emergency rooms for patients with behavioral health crises. A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. 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. I don't think any town or any school is immune from it. Support GBH. 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 Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students, the statement said. The video appears to show three boys one of them wearing a Haverhill football shirt dragging another teen across the floor of a locker room. 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. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. It was very nasty. He also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. 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. It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. 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. I JUST THINK ITS AWFUL. 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. Contests & Promotions. He was harassed by a number of different students, said Hahn. Andrews, a 2020 graduate of Endicott College, indicated his football experience was limited to Pop Warner and high school. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. Woburn School Superintendent Matthew Crowley issued a statement saying Coucelos was unjustly assaulted by other members of the football team. He wrote that Woburn is committed to providing enhanced training for athletic staff to ensure safe participation in athletics for all of our students., Crowley maintained that Woburns football coaches were aware of the prohibitions against bullying and hazing prior to the school year. The Woburn High School football team was on the field Friday night against Melrose High School but off the field, an investigation is underway. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. Now, five years into Belchers coaching career at Woburn, the culture of his program and the school districts supervision of the former Boston College football standout are under scrutiny. >> WANT TO GET STUDENTS -- STUDENT ATHLETES AND ADULT LEADERS IN A ROOM AND START TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BEAT HUMAN BEINGS. "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. A family in Woburn, Massachusetts, wants I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. REPORTER: THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND LOCKER ROOM IS 10 MINUTES OFF-CAMPUS. 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 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. 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. 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. How will the Mass. }Customer Service. It's a shame. 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. Something needs to be said, something to be done. "The school official, superintendent, the principal, vice principal, coaches they all should [face] consequences.. The county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. ""The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. Its shocking that there still have been no repercussions for anyone in the athletic department, said Peter Hahn, the Coucelos familys attorney. Johnathan Coucelos, with his family: from left, mother, Jeanny, brother Jaxon, Johnathan, sister, Karmen, brother Jacob, and father, Kevin. That week, the Woburn Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney announced they were investigating the incident. Crowley, in a letter to the community this month, said the district has retained an outside law firm to conduct a Title IX investigation of the Coucelos incident, which will be followed by an administrative review and policy analysis by a separate outside agency. THE TEAM IS FORFEITING THE REST OF THE SEASON. Nelson concluded Coucelos was indeed assaulted and groped in the locker room. The Rockets improved to 2-0 by dominating Woburn, 35-7, last Saturday at Woburn High. He says there needs to be more accountability. Two other Woburn students allegedly accosted Coucelos later, he said. 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. I feel like parents need to be more involved and acknowledge who their kids friends are. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Woburn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Matthew Crowley sent a letter to the community on Tuesday to provide an update on the "troubling situation involving the WMHS athletics program that has been covered in the news recently. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. He allegedly was punched and struck with water bottles, as well as being indecently assaulted. He was called a snitch. 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. 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. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. "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. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. But that disappointment pales in comparison to the disturbing allegations leveled at members of the Haverhill High School football team. 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. April 14, 2022, 10:11 p.m. Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. OVERALL 7-4 0.64 Win %. 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. 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 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. A hazing investigation at Woburn Memorial High School has led to charges against seven high school students. When I first saw it, I thought it was just a form of competition, he said. NEW! I FEEL BAD. Head football coach Jack Belcher has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. Student leaders of the Woburn team took a stand in recent days supporting Belcher. Crowley said the school district consulted with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and had a consultant from the Anti-Hazing collaborative work with all of their winter sports coaches. 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. The Couceles family reported the assault to police in October. Callanan said in an e-mail, I can reaffirm that I acted appropriately throughout my handling of the familys claims and that much of the information provided to you to date, and which you have printed, is inaccurate.. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. 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. juvenile justice system handle the Woburn bullying case? It was disgusting. And in Woburn, police are "investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team." 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. 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. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. It's a sad situation and hopefully they figure out what happened and it doesn't happen again. 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