Somerville High School Soccer Players Charged with Rape

Alleged rapes

That announcement from the district attorney's office says the three students "entered a cabin occupied by freshman students ... and assaulted three victims."

City of Somerville Spokesperson Jacklyn Rossetti said the three victims were from Somerville.

One of the accused students, Galileo Mondol, was 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 of intimidation of a witness or other person. He will be arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield.

The other two students involved are juveniles—under 17, in Massachusetts—and therefore their names were not released by the Berkshire District Attorney's office. They will be arraigned in Berkshire Juvenile Court on similar charges, the announcement says.

All three suspects are juniors at Somerville High School, according to the Berkshire District Attorney.

The Somerville Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and the Middlesex District Attorney's office are assisting Berkshire law enforcement authorities in the the investigation, according to the announcement.

Statement from mayor and school superintendent

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Somerville Public Schools Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi issued a joint statement about the matter, saying the alleged rapes happened at Somerville High School's annual sports camp.

"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 says.

It says, "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."

No other victims have been identified, and the Berkshire County District Attorney's office has no indication anyone other than the three suspects were involved, Curtatone and Pierantozzi's statement says.

It appears "this was a single, isolated incident," according to the statement.

Support

Curtatone and Pierantozzi's statement says support services are in place for those who need it.

It continues:

"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."

The statement says, "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."

Anyone who's interested in counseling can call the Somerville Trauma Response Network at (617) 625-6600 ext. 4325 or at (857)221-0942.

In-house counselors at Somerville High School are also available for students and families.