woburn football hazing

"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. 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. The remaining coaches reported hearing nothing unusual from their offices near the locker room, despite the loud commotion, which numerous players recorded. Police Investigating Woburn High School Team Incident - Woburn, MA - Officials did not specify the team, but WCVB reported Friday that the football team was 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. 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. Incidents like these have no place in our community, the superintendent added. BOSTON, Ma. Support GBH. Multiple criminal complaints have been filed against several New Jersey high school students following two probes into allegations of rampant abuse and hazing. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. He says there needs to be more accountability. There should be a lot more charges," he said. Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. 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. No one ever came in and checked when things got loud or out of hand.. It's not good for our school. 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 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. 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. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. >> WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE VIDEO? THE TEAM IS FORFEITING THE REST OF THE SEASON. "We are committed to a thorough, multifaceted fact finding operation, and we pledge to be forthcoming regarding the results of those investigations and to enact their findings and recommendations., "As these investigations remain active and ongoing, we will continue to allow that process to unfold," he added. After months of waiting, the case is expected to be heard in juvenile court next month. "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. 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 GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. Contests & Promotions. 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. James Austin's son is on the football team. The county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. 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 REPORTER: THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND LOCKER ROOM IS 10 MINUTES OFF-CAMPUS. The MIAA rejected the request, saying it does not investigate internal complaints involving member schools. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved. How many examples of this appalling behavior will it take to preempt the next hazers in waiting? A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS TRYING TO PULL OFF CLOTHING FROM ANOTHER YOUNG MAN AND LATER ENDS UP ON TOP OF THE ALLEGED HAZING VICTIM. 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. ", The teen was joined by his parents Kevin and Jeanny and his lawyer Peter Hahn, who said the school failed Coucelos. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, and the school did nothing to protect him. A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. display: none; 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. He was attacked in the bathroom. 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. Danvers school committee faces harsh questions after report calls response to high school hazing into question, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. Now, police are filing criminal charges against seven students accused of the assault. Join us. The Middlesex County District Attorney's office says Woburn police notified them about the allegations and are investigating. 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. 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. Breaking News Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. He was harassed by a number of different students, said Hahn. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. It was disgusting. 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 matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. 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. It's a sad situation and hopefully they figure out what happened and it doesn't happen again. Nelson also determined the groping did not meet the narrow definitions of sexual misconduct under the Title IX law. 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 The middlesex county district attorney's office I don't think any town or any school is immune from it. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in connection to a hazing investigation in Woburn, Massachusetts. The Coucelos family accused school officials of putting the football teams interests ahead of student safety with their disciplinary measures. "It was gross. 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. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |Community Guidelines | FCC Applications | Jobs/Internships |, Daily News Updates Last spring, several schools across the state were faced with the emergence of hazing incidents on their athletic teams, some resulting in criminal charges against athletes and ties cut with coaches, athletic directors, and top administrators. Head football coach Jack Belcher has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. "I think the parents need to take action, I feel like parents need to be more involved and acknowledge who their kids friends are and just know their kids' temperament," Austin shared. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. 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. That message from Police Chief Robert Rufo, Mayor Scott Galvin and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Crowley comes one day after sources told NewsCenter 5 that police are investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team. The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus. 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. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. He was called a snitch. Belcher also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. Sources tell A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. It was dirty. I want to cry every time I see that. Coucelos alleged he also was punched by another student on a school bus, but the investigation determined Coucelos himself was the aggressor. Belcher started his high school coaching career as an assistant at Bishop Fenwick in 2001. "Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form," the message reads. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. 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. 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