Woburn School And City Officials Named In Locker Room Attacks Lawsuit

WOBURN, MA — The parents of a former Woburn Memorial High School football player filed a federal lawsuit against school and city officials last week after their then 14-year-old son was beaten and allegedly sexually assaulted by fellow football players in 2021, according to multiple media outlets.

Jeanny and Kevin Coucelos filed the complaint in U.S. District Court in Boston claiming the school permitted a toxic culture in the football program that promoted bullying and violence and led to the attacks on their son Johnathan, Boston.com reported.

The lawsuit also claims the school did not take appropriate action when Johnathan Coucelos reported the incidents and that nobody has been held accountable for the alleged attacks.

WMHS football coach Jack Belcher, Athletic Director Jim Duran, former Principal Jessica Callanan, Superintendent Matthew Crowley, Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin and the Woburn School Committee are among those named as defendants in the lawsuit, according to Boston.com.

The Coucelos family is seeking $750,000 in damages.

Though Johnathan Coucelos was 14 and a minor at the time of the incidents, he has gone public with his story, speaking about the abuse and bullying last year.

Five football players were charged with assaulting Coucelos in September 2021, with one facing an additional count of indecent assault and battery for grouping Coucelo's genitals. Two other students were charged with additional assaults on Coucelos that took place in October and November of 2021.

According to Boston.com, several of the students have been sentenced to community service, while charges against the player who faces the indecent assault and battery charges are still pending.

Now, the Coucelos family and their lawyers have turned their attention to the people who were in charge at the time of the incidents.

"With the filing of this complaint, the Coucelos family takes the next step in seeking justice for the series of outrageous attacks on an innocent young man at Woburn Memorial High School and to hold those in charge accountable for the damage done," Peter Hahn, the family's attorney, told Boston.com.

According to WBZ, at least one attack on Coucelos was recorded and posted on social media.

Athletic Business.com reported that Belcher and Duran, both of whom were in their current positions in 2021, remain on the job.

"I want to see everybody who was involved held liable for what they did and for trying to cover it all up," Johnathan Coucelos said through his father, according to Boston.com

According to the Councelos family, the beating led to Johnathan withdrawing from WMHS. The complaint states that Johnathan was diagnosed with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after the incidents.