Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
The issue of child sexual abuse continues to make headlines in the US. This week, the spotlight is on Massachusetts, where an ex-Newton elementary teacher has been charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a child that he babysat and a Woburn Little League coach is accused of committing sex acts via the Internet with boys he met online.
As our Boston injury lawyer blog has mentioned in the past, Massachusetts child sexual abuse is a serious problem that can lead to devastating physical and emotional injuries for victims. You may be able to pursue compensation from the perpetrator and others that may have been involved-even if they didn’t play a direct role in the abuse or assault but could/should have prevented it.
In these latest incidents, David Ettlinger, the 34-year-old former teacher, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including those for counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, child pornography possession, posing a child in a nude state, posing a child in sexual conduct, and secretly recording someone that was partially nude. Prosecutors say that Ettlinger had images of him “indecently assaulting” the victim stored on his computer.
While he had been registered with Sittercity.com, the Boston Globe could not confirm whether he obtained the babysitting job through the service. If he did, depending on other specifics, the alleged victim’s could sue the company for Massachusetts personal injury for allowing David Ettlinger to offer himself as a sitter through its site. Ettlinger recently pleaded not guilty to other Massachusetts child sex abuse charges that are unrelated to this case.
Meantime, Raymond W. McAllister, 20, has pleaded not guilty to child enticement, posing a child in a nude state, and putting out material that could harm a minor. The Little League coach for a boys’ team of 12- to 14-year-olds allegedly admitted to police that he frequented Web sites that were popular with teen boys. He would then allegedly use Skype to persuade some of them to take part in mutual sex activity via the Internet. (According to a State Police report, in addition to Little League coaching duties in the past McAllister has volunteered at a kid’s Bible camp and also teaches Jujitsu to children and young teens)
The Massachusetts sex abuse allegations come just a couple of days after the entire teaching staff at a California elementary school was replaced because two of its teachers were accused of sexually abusing students. The alleged abuse incidents are said to have taken place in classrooms during school hours. One teacher is accused of “playing games” with both boys and girls, binding and gagging some of them, and getting the girls to swallow spoons filled with his sperm.
Woburn Little League coach held on sex charges, Boston Herald, February 8, 2012
David Ettlinger, former Newton teacher, faces new child porn, indecent assault charges; allegedly attacked girl he babysat, Boston.com, February 8, 2012
California: More Sex Abuse Charges, New York Times, February 7, 2012
More Blog Posts:
New England Conservatory Hired Videographer Who Was Convicted Sex Offender, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 17, 2012
Man Sues City of Waltham for Massachusetts Child Sex Abuse Allegedly Committed by Former Assistant High School Football Coach, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, December 19, 2011
Dorchester, Massachusetts Child Sex Abuse?: Teacher’s Assistant Accused of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior Involving Disabled Student, Boston Injury Lawyer, December 13, 2011
Please contact our Boston injury lawyers to determine whether you have grounds for pursuing Massachusetts sex abuse damages. Altman & Altman LLP represents clients throughout the state.
