Thread: MA. Somerville High School student athletes charged with aggravated rape

Somerville High School student athletes charged with aggravated rape

Posted: Aug 30, 2013 2:14 PM PDT
Updated: Aug 31, 2013 9:45 AM PDT

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Lawyer: Mass. teen not guilty of sports camp rape
The attorney for one of three high school soccer players accused of raping three freshmen at a Massachusetts sports camp says the allegations are shocking and his client maintains his innocence.


SOMERVILLE, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – Three Somerville High School students have been arrested in connection with an alleged rape that occurred at Camp Lenox in Otis this past weekend.

Galileo Mondol, 17, and two 16-year-olds were arrested Friday.

Mondol is being charged with one count of aggravated rape of a child under 16, two counts of assault with intent to rape a child under 16, one count of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained 14 years of age, three counts of assault and battery, and three counts intimidation of a witness or other person. He will be arraigned in Pittsfield.

The 16-year-olds will be were arraigned on similar charges in Pittsfield.

The alleged incident occurred at Camp Lenox in Otis where the City of Somerville had rented the facility for team-building activities for its fall sports teams.

Authorities say the three suspects, juniors at Somerville High School, entered a cabin occupied by freshmen students Sunday and assaulted three victims.

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi issued a joint statement Friday saying the three students are members of the junior varsity boys' soccer team. The allegations were first reported to the athletic department at Somerville High School on Tuesday. The information was relayed to the appropriate authorities and an investigation ensued.

"We are disturbed and appalled that these crimes may have taken place and our thoughts and concerns are with the victims and their families," the statement reads. "Our student-athletes are taught to be leaders in our community and they represent the highest and best values that our school and our community hold. We would like to thank the members of the soccer team for their compassionate support of the victims and their courage in coming forward to assist authorities with the investigation."

School Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi said 161 students attended the camp, with 19 adult supervisors. He said those included 61 soccer players and 8 supervisors.

"All of us, frankly, are horrified at these allegations," Pierantozzi said Friday at a news conference in Somerville with the mayor and other school officials. "We will ensure to the best of our ability that everyone and anyone who needs support will have it."

At this time, authorities say other than the three suspects, no one else had been implicated in the incident. No other victims have been identified.

Support services and counseling will be offered to students.

The investigation is being conducted by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office assisted by State Police detectives assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office and the Somerville Police Department.
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Joint statement from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Tony Pierantozzi, Superintendent of the Somerville Public Schools:

Earlier today, three members of the Somerville High School junior varsity boys' soccer team were arrested on charges that include aggravated rape and assault with intent to rape that allegedly occurred at the annual sports camp in Western Massachusetts. We are disturbed and appalled that these crimes may have taken place and our thoughts and concerns are with the victims and their families. We thank Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless and his office, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, and the Massachusetts State Police for their speed and diligence in undertaking an investigation of these allegations, and also for working cooperatively with the Somerville Police Department and our school officials at every step of this investigation.

These allegations were first reported to members of the Athletic Department at Somerville High School on Tuesday, August 27, 2013. The information was immediately reported to the appropriate authorities including the Department of Children and Families, and a criminal investigation immediately began under the direction of the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office with support by State and Somerville Police. An internal investigation is ongoing.

At this time, the thorough and meticulous investigation by the Berkshire County D.A.'s Office provides no indication that anyone other than the three individuals arrested have been implicated, and found that this was a single, isolated incident.

No other victims have been identified. Our student-athletes are taught to be leaders in our community and they represent the highest and best values that our school and our community hold. We would like to thank the members of the soccer team for their compassionate support of the victims and their courage in coming forward to assist authorities with the investigation.

Our primary concern right now is for the victims and other members of the boys soccer team, as well as for other teams that attended the summer camp. Support services are in place for all those in need of such services.

Informational meetings have been conducted for all team members and the parents and guardians of team members who attended the camp to ensure all have access to appropriate services. We will continue to provide these services including the support of the Trauma Response Network and counseling. Services are available to community members and school families who may need them, and an educational and support forum for the school and community members will be announced in the near future.

Our coaches, staff and teachers promote the importance of students working cooperatively and supporting one another at all times. We take great pride in the fact that our students are actively involved in creating caring and supportive school communities. We continue to emphasize to all students that any type of aggressive, criminal or demeaning behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the Somerville Public Schools.

As the investigation continues, and as our community processes this very disturbing information and comes together to heal, we ask that the privacy of student-athletes and families be respected.

http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/233...#ixzz2daSlTjzU

Boston Herald

Galileo Mondol Hazing: 3 Soccer Players Charged with Assault

The Epoch Times ‎- by Jack Phillips ‎- 3 hours ago
Three soccer player students at Somerville High School in Massachusetts, including 17-year-old Galileo Mondol, were charged with assault ...