Two Foxboro Students Accused Of Assaulting Transgender Student

ATTLEBORO, MA — Two students from Foxboro High School were arrested Tuesday and charged with assaulting a transgender North Attleboro High School student after a boys basketball game last week.

Allen R. Hart III, 18, of Foxboro and Walpole, was arraigned in Attleboro District Court on Tuesday afternoon. While he was released with no bail, he was ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device, stay away from the student, and have a set curfew.

The other student accused of the assault, whose name has not been made public, was arraigned in Attleboro Juvenile Court.

Both students face charges of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and battery to intimidate, and a civil rights violation, said Hart's lawyer, Paul Carlucci.

On Feb. 8, an altercation broke out in the parking lot of North Attleboro High School after a game against Foxboro High. Police said the incident led to a transgender student from North Attleboro High School being harassed about their gender identity and then assaulted.

Carlucci said Hart turned himself into North Attleboro police Tuesday morning after hearing another student was going to be charged with assaulting the teenager.

"He said, 'That's not right, it was me,'" The Sun Chronicle first reported Carlucci saying.

According to Carlucci, name calling was a large part of the incident.

Carlucci said Hart was punched first by the NAHS student, and then fought back by holding the student in a bear hug.

However, Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Murphy says a very different event happened, adding that the transgender NAHS student was targeted and assaulted out of nowhere. Murphy said witnesses immediately identified Hart as the perpetrator.

"Are you a boy or a girl?" Murphy says Hart was quoted saying to the victim before allegedly grabbing the student by the shirt and slamming them against a parked car.

Prosecutors say Hart and his friends approached the transgender student while people were leaving the school following the game. Murphy says Hart called the student slurs in reference to the student's gender identity.

Hart put his hands on the student's neck and chest, continuing to taunt them and asking, "Are you a boy or girl?" before getting pulled off by a witness, Murphy said.

The student suffered back pain, a bruise and scratches to the face, according to the prosecutor, adding that the defendant left the scene before police could get there.

"This was a deeply upsetting and disturbing incident that in no way reflects the values and principles of North Attleboro Public Schools," North Attleboro Superintendent John Antonucci said last week. "We strive to provide a welcoming, supportive and above all safe learning environment for all, and denounce all acts of hate and violence."

Antonucci added that officials contacted the student and their family to offer support and counseling to anyone who was affected by the incident.

While Hart has no criminal record, Murphy still recommended a $1,500 cash bail to make sure he returns to court.

If convicted, the maximum penalty Hart could face is 10 years in prison, the Sun reported.

LGBTQ VIOLENCE HELP: The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. Text, chat or call anytime to reach a trained counselor. If you are an LGBTQ young person in need of support, reach out to one of our crisis counselors, available 24/7 at (212) 695-8650 or click here.