Multiple investigations are being undertaken. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. 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. 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. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office also said they were notified about the allegations by police and are participating in the investigation. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. It's really not a bad school.". "I urge patience as we are all eager to view the results, myself included.". Callanan is leaving after the school year to become the director of academic achievement at Reading Memorial High School. Instead, Belcher instructed the traumatized player to return to the field for 35 more minutes of contact drills, his complaint states. The Middlesex County District Attorney's office says Woburn police notified them about the allegations and are investigating. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |Community Guidelines | FCC Applications | Jobs/Internships |, Daily News Updates And several players who face criminal charges remained on the team through a prestigious Thanksgiving game at Fenway Park and continue participating in offseason workouts. I also told the principal, who didnt stop him.. But conflicting witness statements prevented Nelson from establishing who groped Coucelos, he stated. Last September, Johnathan Coucelos had just finished dressing in the freshman locker room when he got jumped by about a dozen teammates, a video recording shows. 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. "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. Woburn police received a complaint on Oct. 13 regarding an incident earlier in the school year, the joint statement said. Johnathan Coucelos (center) and his family have helped drive the scrutiny of Woburn's football program. But that disappointment pales in comparison to the disturbing allegations leveled at members of the Haverhill High School football team. Thats a perversion of sports culture, which instead of building character, produces cowardly thugs. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.. Three years later, he became the head coach at Bedford High School. 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. Contests & Promotions. His parents made that decision to withdraw him from the school because it was no longer safe for him to be there. Wilson said he wasnt surprised by news of bullying in Belchers program. The Rockets improved to 2-0 by dominating Woburn, 35-7, last Saturday at Woburn High. Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment, or retaliation in any form, the school district said in the statement. REPORTER: THEY ARE KICKING OFF THAT PROGRAM DECEMBER 8, EVOLVING -- INVOLVING THE MASS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS AND SOCIETY GROUP. All rights reserved, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of New Hampshire: An NBC10 Boston Original, Crash Causes Injuries, Lane Closure on I-95 in Peabody, Tracking the Next Hit of Wintry Weather Headed to New England, Due Late Week, Even After Investigation, Stoneham Cop Hasn't Paid Dime of Rent to New Landlord, FIRST ALERT: As Snow Continues to Fall, Weekend Storm Promises More for Boston, JetBlue Plane, Private Jet Have Close Call' at Boston's Logan Airport: FAA. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. 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 an active and ongoing investigation. Nelson concluded Coucelos was indeed assaulted and groped in the locker room. 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. March 1, 2022 Greater Boston. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. >> WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE VIDEO? A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. He says there needs to be more accountability. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. }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. An alleged hazing incident is under investigation at the high school in Woburn, Massachusetts. 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. ", Watch: Woburn High School accused of ignoring allegations of bullying. Woburn High made no substantive efforts to curtail the bullying, they stated. 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. LEAGUE 4-1 2nd Middlesex - Liberty. 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. #ada-button-frame { The 25 new centers are expected to ease the burden on emergency rooms for patients with behavioral health crises. It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. 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 MIAA rejected the request, saying it does not investigate internal complaints involving member schools. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time. He said he witnessed Belcher routinely pit players against each other during practice. 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," 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. 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. 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. Coucelos reported the violent incidents to coaches and the police who did not take enough action. TONIGHT IS THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING HERE AT HAV. 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. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. Whats more, the boy and his parents allege, school authorities failed to correct the abusive nature of Belchers coaching after they reported the incident. I wasnt there to protect my son," Couceles shared. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Couceles family reported the assault to police in October. 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. I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. Attempts to reach Belcher, Duran, and Andrews were unsuccessful. 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. >> I DONT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH KIDS TODAY. Hahn said he provided notice to the city and school district about their intent to sue. 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.. 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 Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are investigating a complaint received earlier in the week involving members of a Woburn High School sports team. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.". "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. 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. He left his job as a paraprofessional at the Woburn school in April. "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.". He was attacked in his Spanish class. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, Lowell Highs annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Haverhill has been canceled due to an alleged hazing incident involving Haverhill players that was caught on video. 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