Police: Former Arlington swim coach sexually abused minors

On behalf of Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys posted in Sexual Abuse, on Wednesday, June 5, 2013

In a pending criminal case in Medford, a number of people who say they were sexually abused by a former Arlington swim coach may finally see justice served. The accused man, 63, worked as a swim coach for the Arlington Boys & Girls Club in the 1970s and 1980s. According to the allegations, he sexually abused three young boys and a high school sophomore.When the man was arrested, he admitted to assaulting two of the witnesses. He also indicated that he might have abused the other two, but he couldn’t be sure. The former swim coach left Massachusetts more than 30 years ago. Since then, he has lived in six other states, including California and Michigan. When police arrested him on May 17, he was living in New York. A number of law enforcement agencies worked together to make the arrest. Despite the suspect’s frequent movement across the country, his public defender argued that there was no risk of the man fleeing the state. The judge decided to grant him a $250,000 bail, and he will be tracked with a GPS device. He will also be required to stay away from children and report weekly to a probation officer. During the Arlington police investigation, dozens of former members of the Boys & Girls Club called in to report sexual abuse by the suspect. The investigation is ongoing, and other instances of abuse may come to light. Abuse victims should be aware of the statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases. For adults, the statute of limitations is three years. For sexual abuse of a minor, the statute of limitations extends until the victim turns 21. If repressed memories are a factor, exceptions might be made to extend the statute further. Victims of sexual abuse need to know that they are not alone. Though it may be difficult, coming forward about abuse could be a major step in reclaiming your life and preventing other people from being hurt. Source: wickedlocal.com, “Former Boys & Girls swim coach charged in sexual assault case,” May 20, 2013