Crime & Safety

Defendant in Child Assault Case Served Time For Fraud

Douglas Reeves, a former Swampscott resident, author and international education consultant served time in federal prison in the early 1990s.

 

A former Swampscott resident and prominent education consultant alleged to have assaulted a 9-year-old girl in a sexual manner at his Swampscott home in 2006 is a convicted felon who served prison time, according to federal court records.

Douglas Reeves, 58, who now lives at 100 Beacon St., #6, Boston, entered a guilty plea in 1993 in US District Court in Wyoming on a securities fraud charge — part of an agreement with prosecutors.

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He was sentenced to five months in prison and three years supervised release with special conditions, and ordered to pay $80,000 restitution, court records state.

The specifics of the case have since been sealed from public view.

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The matter of "prior bad acts" is an item of contention in the pending indecent assault case in Lynn District Court.

It is unclear from court records what "prior bad acts" are being referred to in the case.

But the pretrial conference report states that the judge will hear motions from the prosecution and defense regarding these acts.

Reeves is scheduled to appear in Lynn District Court for a compliance and election hearing on Dec. 10.

At that time the judge will make sure that both sides have the information they need to go forward with the trial.

In addition, the defendant can elect to have a trial with or without a jury.

Reeves is charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

Reeves' lawyer, Max Stern, said in an earlier interview that "this accusation is horrifying and devastating to Doug Reeves."

"It's simply not true," Stern said. "It never happened."

Reeves previously lived on Ocean Avenue in Swampscott, and is alleged to have touched a private area of the child in 2006, according to the court file.

The incident was alleged to have happened while the girl and her family stayed at the Reeves home on a trip that included a stop in Swampscott.

Reeves is the founder of The Leadership and Learning Center, which serves school systems around the world.

He is the author of 30 books and numerous articles on leadership and organizational effectiveness.

Reeves was the former coach for the Swampscott High debate team, a volunteer position, serving most recently in the 2010-11 school year.

The defendant remains free on his own personal recognizance under several conditions restricting his contact with children.


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