Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.. It's not good for our school. Woburn High made no substantive efforts to curtail the bullying, they stated. With Haverhill forfeiting the contest, Lowell will finish the season with a 4-7 record. Belcher also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus. Crowley said they have reached out to the Couceles family. Its shocking that there still have been no repercussions for anyone in the athletic department, said Peter Hahn, the Coucelos familys attorney. But in recent years, perhaps spurred on by the random, gutless behavior enabled by social media, hazings descended into outright physical and psychological abuse, encouraged or ignored in some cases by adults in leadership positions. "He just wants to be by himself all the time. This is an active and ongoing investigation. One has an additional "indecent assault and battery" charge. It hurts him to this day. Lowell staged a miraculous comeback in last year s contest, scoring 34 points in the second half to stun the Hillies, 41-36. All seven face single counts of assault and battery, while one also is charged with indecent assault and battery for allegedly grabbing Couceloss genitals. A Woburn police detective has been assigned to the case. Contests & Promotions. The three-year initiative is called Transforming Narratives of Gun Violence. 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. 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 middlesex county district attorney's office Johnathan Coucelos, with his family: from left, mother, Jeanny, brother Jaxon, Johnathan, sister, Karmen, brother Jacob, and father, Kevin. Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. It's really not a bad school. Detective assigned to investigate allegations of hazing involving Woburn High School sports team. 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. Morning Weather Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. Several students, including football players in uniform, are seen pouring water on him and throwing water bottles. 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. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. I wasnt there to protect my son," Couceles shared. A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. It goes on to show a fourth teen in underwear squatting into the victims face, while other boys screamed and cheered, according to reports. 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) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina.The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus.Police are investigating and members of the teams coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave.Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. Join us. I urge all people involved to cooperate completely with the investigators so that the best and most just outcome can be reached. 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. "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. While charges are pending for some students, Couceles says the coaches and school leadership should be held accountable, too. THE MAYOR GOES ON TO SAY IM CONCERNED THIS HAPPENED, AND CONCERNED BY REPORTS THAT OTHER STUDENTS STOOD BY AND DID NOT INTERVENE. Woburn officials issue statement about investigation involving football team. A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. "Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form," the message reads. PARENTS ARE NOW REVISITING BASIC RIGHTS AND WRONGSAT HOME. 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. Saturday's statement did not provide details about the nature of the allegation and did not specifically mention the football team. He also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. All rights reserved (About Us). "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 federal Title IX law protects students against many forms of discrimination and violence, including bullying and hazing. 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. Warren said a formal announcement is forthcoming. OVERALL 7-4 0.64 Win %. Whats more, the family says, no school employee has publicly accepted responsibility for the trauma, while the students answer to criminal charges. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. Couceles said his wife decided to pull their son out of the Woburn school for his safety in December. LEAGUE 4-1 2nd Middlesex - Liberty. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.". 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. Two more students face charges for subsequent harassment in the weeks after the assault in the locker room. This week, the Danvers High wrestling program was suspended after an investigation into a fight that allegedly occurred over a racial slur led to the discovery of a team Snapchat group that included racist and biased language. Belcher, as the head coach, is responsible for the programs culture, according to specialists in student-athlete safety. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. "We wish to state, without reservation, that the Woburn Public Schools took this matter seriously as soon as we learned about it and that our response was comprehensive and thorough.". I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in connection to a hazing investigation in Woburn, Massachusetts. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. 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. 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. "As your superintendent I promise that the standards we will set for ourselves, our sports programs and how we are to treat one another will be of paramount importance as we continue to move through this process and learn all the facts and circumstances," Crowley wrote. The 25 new centers are expected to ease the burden on emergency rooms for patients with behavioral health crises. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. 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 September. Several students, including football players in uniform, are seen pouring water on him and throwing water bottles. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. Four days later, they stated, Callanan told them she had addressed the issue, without explaining how. 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. James Austin's son is on the football team. It was very nasty. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. 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 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. He should have been fired., The Globe asked Belcher and other school officials to comment. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, 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. Bullying and hazing happen when you pit players against each other like he does, Wilson said. In 1983, Belcher was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the NFL Draft. 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. To my knowledge, there have been no other bullying allegations made to the administration regarding this individual.. 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. "Very heartbroken.. 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.. Andrews, a 2020 graduate of Endicott College, indicated his football experience was limited to Pop Warner and high school. There was little to no supervision in the locker room, he said. He left his job as a paraprofessional at the Woburn school in April. It's not good. Lowell Highs annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Haverhill has been canceled due to an alleged hazing incident involving Haverhill players that was REPORTER: THE MAYOR SAYS I SUPPORT HIRING AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO -- TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION. 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.. ", "The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.. 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. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. One football player was accused of indecent assault for allegedly yanking down Johnathans pants and touching his genitals in the locker room episode. 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. #ada-button-frame { GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. 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. Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are display: none; Multiple investigations are being undertaken. ""The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. It's really not a bad school.". Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved., Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said in a statement shared on Facebook Wednesday night that he was alarmed, concerned, and frankly disgusted by the video and that this can never be allowed to occur again., He said the boys involved in the incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team., I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation, he said in the statement. Most just outcome can be reached are display: none ; Multiple investigations are being undertaken charges subsequent. 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