Two other Woburn students allegedly accosted Coucelos later, he said. 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. "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. Sources tell 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 middlesex county district attorney's office says woburn police notified them about the allegations, and are investigating. 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. April 14, 2022, 10:11 p.m. THE STUDENTS INVOLVED HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. }Customer Service, 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. He is a good person that cares tremendously for us.. The three-year initiative is called Transforming Narratives of Gun Violence. 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. He was called a snitch. 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. A hazing investigation at Woburn Memorial High School has led to charges against seven high school students. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. 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.. The student said he felt ill and experienced a lingering headache, but he did not seek treatment from the team athletic trainer for fear of being further characterized as weak. Coucelos, fearing for his safety, has transferred to Cambridge Matignon School. The moments before were obstructed from view by the crowd gathered around. 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.. 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. The MIAA rejected the request, saying it does not investigate internal complaints involving member schools. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. We're live in Woburn. 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 fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation. It doesn't feel the same anymore to be out in public," he said. 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 remaining coaches reported hearing nothing unusual from their offices near the locker room, despite the loud commotion, which numerous players recorded. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. No one ever came in and checked when things got loud or out of hand.. Breaking News He allegedly was punched and struck with water bottles, as well as being indecently assaulted. Woburn, MA Police are pursuing criminal charges against seven students at Woburn Memorial High School after a freshman football player, 14-year-old Johnathan CNN A high school near Pennsylvanias capital has canceled its upcoming football season over reports of hazing by members of the schools football team. 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 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. 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. Multiple criminal complaints have been filed against several New Jersey high school students following two probes into allegations of rampant abuse and hazing. Johnathan Coucelos (center) and his family have helped drive the scrutiny of Woburn's football program. "They haven't given my son or even us any support whatsoever," Kevin Coucelos said. While arraignments have begun in Lowell Juvenile Court for seven Woburn students, including five football players, charged with assaulting Coucelos, his parents say the report underscores that Woburn school officials head football coach Jack Belcher, athletic director Jim Duran, and principal Jessica Callanan, among them failed to adequately protect their son. The Woburn case put a spotlight on numerous violent incidents in high school sports over the last year that have been brought to the attention of government officials, civil rights groups, and student safety organizations. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. "The only game left on the 2022 Haverhill High football schedule was the Thanksgiving rivalry game against Lowell High School.The Haverhill School Committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. 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. It was very nasty. 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. 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. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Detective assigned to investigate allegations of hazing involving Woburn High School sports team. Attempts to reach Belcher, Duran, and Andrews were unsuccessful. 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. I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. #ada-button-frame { Seven Massachusetts students charged in connection with alleged assaults on high school football teammate. KYMA/CBS 13/KECY is an equal opportunity employer. Lowell staged a miraculous comeback in last year s contest, scoring 34 points in the second half to stun the Hillies, 41-36. Police seek charges against seven students after Woburn locker room incident, After Woburn football player endures multiple alleged assaults, parents left outraged by official response. 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. He was harassed by a number of different students, said Hahn. "I share in the collective shock and outrage regarding this incident.". All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.. "The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students. 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. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. display: none; Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.". The family also asked Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association to take action against Woburn school officials for allegedly violating MIAA rules on hazing, fighting, and sportsmanship, among others. BOSTON, Ma. "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. It's really not a bad school.". 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.. 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. It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. A parent who asked not to be identified said her son, who graduated in 2021, was bullied on the practice field, in the locker room, and elsewhere in the school by his football teammates. 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. PARENTS ARE NOW REVISITING BASIC RIGHTS AND WRONGSAT HOME. 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. Now there was a heavy police presence here at the game, but no issues here tonight. The freshman football player is seen pulling up his pants in the video. James Austin's son is on the football team. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. This is an active and ongoing investigation. He says there needs to be more accountability. The Woburn High School football team was on the field Friday night against Melrose High School but off the field, an investigation is underway. 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. Two more students face charges for subsequent harassment in the weeks after the assault in the locker room. The 25 new centers are expected to ease the burden on emergency rooms for patients with behavioral health crises. "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. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. 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