Marblehead Hockey Coach Accused Of Abusing Boys Released On Bail

MARBLEHEAD, MA — A youth hockey coach from Marblehead accused of sexually assaulting eight boys under the age of 14 was released on $15,000 bail Thursday. Christopher Prew, 33, of Marblehead, had requested a new bail hearing in Salem Superior Court following a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that allowed him to be released.

Prew was indicted for one count of Rape of a Child Aggravated by Age Difference, 14 counts of Indecent Assault & Battery on a Child Under 14 and one count of attempted Indecent Assault & Battery on Child Under 14. The eight victims are boys between the ages of 7 and 13.

"As District Attorney, it is my duty to protect the public. That duty drastically is impeded if the law does not allow my Office to seek pre-trial detention under the dangerousness statute against individuals who rape and sexually assault children," Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. "There is no other victim more vulnerable than a child. The law must be changed so that we may protect them from predators. I am asking the Legislature, again, to enact Governor Baker's re-file, 'An Act to Protect the Commonwealth from Dangerous Persons,' immediately to close this gap in the law."

Judge Thomas Drechsler said Prew has to live with a family member other than his mother and stepfather in a home without firearms or minor children. He also has to where a GPS monitor and surrender on a Vermont warrant. Conditions of his release also require him to stay out of Marblehead and not have contact with witnesses or victims.

Essex Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall argued in a bail memorandum that despite the fact that the defendant has been found dangerous by a District and Superior Court judges, the recent SJC decisions and "dire necessity for legislative action" prevents the state from arguing Prew should be ordered held.

Prew's mother was charged after allegedly sending a threatening message to the mother of one his accusers. Louise Martino, 55, of Winthrop pleaded not guilty to one count of intimidation of a witness in Lynn District Court in March 2018.

A status hearing for Prew is scheduled for Jan. 9. His trial is scheduled to open on May 4.

Prew is accused of sexually assaulting seven boys across Essex County. Prosecutors say most of the allegations took place between Jan. 1, 2017 and Feb. 5, 2018. Prew has also been indicted for molesting a boy in Newton.

Prew, who provided private and group coaching sessions out a hockey company he co-owns, was initially accused of indecently assaulting and orally raping a 9-year-old boy on various dates between Sept. 1 and Jan. 31. Marblehead police began investigating Prew after the boy told his mother of the alleged assaults, officials said.

Prew's attorney said at the time of the first indictment that Prew had been "intimately involved with the mother of the child" and expected his client to be vindicated.