Seven Woburn students charged in alleged locker room assaults on former football player

1 of the soccer players faces an supplemental rely of indecent assault and battery for allegedly touching Coucelos’s genitals in the locker area incident.

All 7 college students await arraignment.

Coucelos and his parents, Kevin and Jeanny Coucelos, manufactured general public the alleged abuse in a World report in December. They complained at the time that no prices experienced been introduced against the alleged perpetrators — and no duty had been taken by the Woburn coaching personnel or school administrators — for practically 3 months just after the locker space incident.

The Globe does not discover victims of alleged sexual assaults except they give their consent.

Coucelos’ mothers and fathers stated they continue being dismayed by the duration of time amongst the locker area incident and the official fees, as nicely as by the coaching employees and administration’s handling of the alleged assaults.

The method was slowed in aspect by delays in the courtroom system after Woburn police began pursuing costs.

“We don’t know why it took six months for the [Middlesex] district lawyer and Woburn Law enforcement Section to appear up with prices,” Kevin Coucelos said. “We as a relatives want to see justice for Johnathan and accountability for the coaches.”

Johnathan Coucelos and his mom and dad have suffered emotionally, they claimed. And since the teenager no for a longer period felt secure at the Woburn faculty, he has transferred to the Cambridge Matignon College, his mother and father explained.

“No loved ones really should go as a result of what we’ve been likely by way of,’’ Kevin Coucelos reported.

He and his wife have notified Woburn’s metropolis solicitor they are arranging to sue the city and school division for $750,000.

On Wednesday, Woburn College Superintendent Matt Crowley referred to his prior statements on the make a difference. In February, Crowley mentioned that the district has retained outside the house counsel to carry out a Title IX investigation of the incident, and that a 2nd exterior agency will then comprehensive “a thorough administrative critique and plan analysis” of difficulties arising from the allegations.

“We pledge to be forthcoming with regards to the final results of those people investigations and pledge to enact their results and tips,” Crowley reported.

Head soccer mentor Jack Belcher and his team, as perfectly as athletic director Jim Duran and principal Jessica Callanan, have not been created offered by the school district to comment on the allegations.

Callanan declared in March that she will stage down in July.

Belcher, a former Stoneham High Faculty and Boston College or university football captain, stays on the job, regardless of calls by the Coucelos spouse and children and many others for him, Duran, and assistant coach Chase Andrews to be replaced.

Johnathan Coucelos mentioned he noted the locker room incident to Andrews immediately immediately after it transpired and felt ignored by him.

Many of Belcher’s previous BC teammates have contacted the Globe to protect him, as have some of his previous Woburn players.

“He is a person of religion, and a person who strives to constantly do the appropriate point,” reported Doug Guyer, a previous BC teammate. “He is a mentor who mentors his gamers on why they should really often be on the lookout for ways to help other folks, not harm them or carry them down.”

Ryan Qualey, who established Woburn faculty data for touchdown passes underneath Belcher, claimed he volunteered to assistance mentor the staff final tumble in advance of he returned to the College of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where by he plays baseball. He reported he has never witnessed Belcher stimulate or tolerate abusive conduct.

“I want to be on the record that the coach is a fantastic guy who provides people together,” Qualey stated. “I was shocked when I heard the tale due to the fact that’s just not the plan I know or remember.”

The Coucelos spouse and children and their attorney also expressed concern about the school’s managing of surveillance video relevant to the locker home incident.

“We continue to be anxious about the school police resource officer [Detective Edward Fumicello] and principal Callanan watching surveillance video clip of the hallway outside the locker rooms and letting the movie proof to be deleted in spite of an ongoing legal investigation,” Hahn stated.

Woburn law enforcement declined to comment.

Hahn reported a Middlesex assistant district lawyer explained to him this week that “an open up door in some way obstructed the see and/or designed the graphic so brilliant that absolutely nothing could be found.”

Hahn explained faculty directors experienced earlier informed him there was no relevant proof on the online video.

“The administration ought to be better trained and held accountable for permitting the surveillance movie be deleted,” Kevin Coucelos said.

Bob Hohler can be achieved at [email protected].