Three Massachusetts high school soccer players arrested for rape

Three high school soccer players were arrested and charged with the sexual assault of three victims at a campground in Otis, Massachusetts. According to the Boston Globe, 17-year-old Galileo Mondol and two 16-year-olds allegedly entered the freshman cabin at Camp Lenox and carried out a sexual assault against three 16-year-old players whose names and genders have been withheld.

Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless told the Globe that the three suspects are all juniors at Somerville High School in Somerville, MA. The teens were arrested Friday and Mondol was charged with one count of aggravated rape of a child under the age of 16, two counts of assault with intent to rape a child under 16, one count of indecent assault and battery, three counts of assault and battery and three counts of witness intimidation. The other suspects are believed to face a similar roster of charges.

The attack took place on the night of Saturday, Aug. 24 at facilities rented by Somerville High School athletic department for the weekend. The camp included football players and male and female soccer players. Somerville mayor and Somerville High School assistant football coach Joseph Curtatone told reporters Friday that the school district heard about the incident on Tuesday and handed the matter directly over to the police.

The mayor -- who was at Camp Lenox on the night of the attack -- and school superintendent Tony Pierantozzi released a joint statement that read, in part, "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."

The Globe reported that Pierantozzi said at a press conference, "All of us, frankly, are horrified at these allegations." He said the weekend camp included 161 students and 19 adult chaperones.

Somerville High School soccer coach George Scarpelli said that the rest of the team and students are supporting each other.

"It's not an easy situation. But it's something that our kids are standing up and being very strong," said Scarpelli at the press conference. "I have good boys and they're standing very strong together."

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