"The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. Andrews, a 2020 graduate of Endicott College, indicated his football experience was limited to Pop Warner and high school. Saturday's statement did not provide details about the nature of the allegation and did not specifically mention the football team. REPORTER: THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND LOCKER ROOM IS 10 MINUTES OFF-CAMPUS. 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 Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. He should have been fired., The Globe asked Belcher and other school officials to comment. He says there needs to be more accountability. 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? PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. Two more students face charges for subsequent harassment in the weeks after the assault in the locker room. Andrews is gone. While charges are pending for some students, Couceles says the coaches and school leadership should be held accountable, too. WOBURN SENIOR FOOTBALL CAPTAINS (l-r) Derek Dabrieo, Jake Daniell, Derek Baccari, Anthony Palmieri and Yahya Aksadi. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. 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. KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. The Woburn High School football team was on the field Friday night against Melrose High School but off the field, an investigation is underway. 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. It was very nasty. Something needs to be said, something to be done. Several students, including football players in uniform, are seen pouring water on him and throwing water bottles. 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. THIS IS VIDEO OF THE ALLEGED HAZING INCIDENT IN THE FOOTBALL LOCKROOM. 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. Its hard to watch but Kevin Couceles says cellphone video shared on social media shows his son being assaulted in the locker room of Woburn Memorial High School after a football game last September. The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students, the statement said. And at some point, he had to leave the school for his safety. The Woburn case is one of numerous violent incidents in high school sports over the last year that have captured the attention of government officials, civil rights groups, and student safety organizations. That week, the Woburn Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney announced they were investigating the incident. And this has very negatively impacted both Jonathan and his parents, the whole family.. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. We hadnt been winning a lot of games and I thought he might turn things around.. "The school official, superintendent, the principal, vice principal, coaches they all should [face] consequences.. I urge all people involved to cooperate completely with the investigators so that the best and most just outcome can be reached. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. 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. 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. 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.. A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. Callanan is leaving after the school year to become the director of academic achievement at Reading Memorial High School. He says there needs to be more accountability. Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are It's really not a bad school. The freshman football player is seen pulling up his pants in the video. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. #ada-button-frame { "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved. Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.. Coucelos reported the violent incidents to coaches and the police who did not take enough action. Hire A Woburn Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. Somehow, ganging up or picking on someone half ones size has come to symbolize the kind of toughness required to be successful on a football field, basketball court or hockey rink. ", 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. We're live in Woburn. Now, police are filing criminal charges against seven students accused of the assault. Support GBH. Belcher told Hanley he had left the building before the incident. Three years later, he became the head coach at Bedford High School. The middlesex county district attorney's office 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. OVERALL 7-4 0.64 Win %. }Customer Service. Police Investigating Woburn High School Team Incident - Woburn, MA - Officials did not specify the team, but WCVB reported Friday that the football team was Hahn said a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lowell Juvenile Court was moved to March. He was attacked in his Spanish class. It was dirty. In 1983, Belcher was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the NFL Draft. 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.. I don't think any town or any school is immune from it. "I share in the collective shock and outrage regarding this incident.". Morning Weather 2 Men Shot; 1 Dies In Early Morning Shooting In Woburn: Police, Woburn Teachers Ratify, Staff Ratify Contracts To Strike, MA Has Another Mega Millions Winner After $31M Ticket Sold In Woburn, Dive In Commonwealth Virtual Information Session, Free Online Mindfulness Session: Taming the Overactive Mind, Author Event with Sociologist Amanda Freeman, Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Woburn Public Library, Woburn Area Pet Adoption: Little, Roland, Hootie & More, Woburn Area Prospective Homeowners: Look Through 3 New Properties For Sale. 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. WE HAVE BLURRED THE LEWD AND VIOLENT SCENEAT LEAST ONE PERSON -- SCENE. 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. BOSTON, Ma. He left his job as a paraprofessional at the Woburn school in April. Two other Woburn students allegedly accosted Coucelos later, he said. 2023 by KYMA / NPG of Yuma-El Centro Broadcasting. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. The player alleges Woburn head coach Jack Belcher instigated the kick by encouraging older teammates to in Belchers words toughen up younger ones. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. Woburn police and the Middlesex District Attorneys office are now investigating. "It was gross. "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 hearing is scheduled before the Supreme Judicial Court in April on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Associations appeal of a lower court injunction that permitted the former Woburn player to compete this year for another MIAA schools football and basketball teams after the MIAA denied his waiver request for a fifth year of eligibility. Hahn said he provided notice to the city and school district about their intent to sue. The Globe is not identifying the player who alleges he was kicked in the head because a Middlesex Superior Court judge sealed the case in October, citing student privacy concerns. The Woburn Police Department received a complaint Wednesday involving members of a Woburn High School sports team regarding an incident earlier in the 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. Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment, or retaliation in any form, the school district said in the statement. 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. The middlesex county district attorney's office says woburn police notified them about the allegations, and are investigating. We couldn't do it without you. One tradition put on hold, while another continues, exposing vulnerable youngsters to physical and emotional harm. 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 The former Woburn player asserted the waiver was warranted in part because of the trauma he allegedly endured in Belchers program. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. But former players and parents allege bullying became routine under Belcher, who has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. I feel like parents need to be more involved and acknowledge who their kids friends are. It's not good. The family is asking for accountability from the school. "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. 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. The student who grabbed him in the classroom, he said, was a former Woburn football player. Coucelos alleged he also was punched by another student on a school bus, but the investigation determined Coucelos himself was the aggressor. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.". The Woburn case is one of numerous violent incidents in high school sports over the last year that have captured the attention of government officials, civil rights groups, and student safety organizations. The Couceles family reported the assault to police in October. The Rams released him in training camp before he was drafted by the Boston Breakers of the fledgling United States Football League. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office also said they were notified about the allegations by police and are participating in the investigation. 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. Severe Weather Alerts He is a good person that cares tremendously for us.. "It was gross. Unfortunately, Lowells seniors wont be able to experience that joy of victory or agony of defeat. I JUST THINK ITS AWFUL. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. Johnathan Coucelos, with his family: from left, mother, Jeanny, brother Jaxon, Johnathan, sister, Karmen, brother Jacob, and father, Kevin. 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. But all these adults need to go.. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". 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 did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. Belcher also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. racial slurs and engaging in homophobic hazing, Danvers High wrestling program was suspended. 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 YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. The committee will likely go into an executive session in order to determine the next steps that should be taken in the hazing investigation. 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. 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 DONT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH KIDS TODAY. Multiple criminal complaints have been filed against several New Jersey high school students following two probes into allegations of rampant abuse and hazing. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. There was little to no supervision in the locker room, he said. I wasnt there to protect my son," Couceles shared. 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. "Saturday's statement did not provide details about the nature of the allegation and did not specifically mention the football team. Several media outlets have reported on a video, posted to Boston 25, allegedly showing members of the football team hazing a teenage boy. 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. On Sept. 25, 2018, three years to the day It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. 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. Whats more, the boy and his parents allege, school authorities failed to correct the abusive nature of Belchers coaching after they reported the incident. Seven Massachusetts students charged in connection with alleged assaults on high school football teammate. 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. Marotta said the investigation is ongoing and significant material was uncovered Wednesday, impacting the direction of the investigation and the entire school community. HOME3-3 AWAY4-0 NEUTRAL0-1. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. 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. ", Watch: Woburn High School accused of ignoring allegations of bullying. Woburn Memorial Football. The Rockets improved to 2-0 by dominating Woburn, 35-7, last Saturday at Woburn High. 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. After News Of Anti-Semitism On Duxburys Football Team, Where Does The Town Go From Here? Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. 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. 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