Crime & Safety

National Education Consultant Charged With Assaulting Child

Douglas Reeves, formerly of Swampscott, was arraigned Tuesday in Lynn District Court, where the judge entered a not guilty plea for him.

 

A prominent Boston education consultant was arraigned Tuesday in Lynn District Court on a charge alleging he committed an indecent assault on a 9-year-old girl in Swampscott.

Douglas Reeves, 58, of 100 Beacon St., #6, Boston. is charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

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The judge entered a not guilty plea for the defendant.

Reeves was released on his own personal recognizance under several conditions restricting his contact with children.

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Reeves' lawyer, Max Stern, said in an interview after court 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.

Tuesday before Judge James Wexler, the prosecution and defense argued conditions of release for Reeves.

Conditions set by the judge include the following:

  • No unsupervised contact with children under 16 except for his stepchild
  • No contact with witnesses
  • No entry to any elementary school or middle school without an adult present

Prosecutor Anna Zalewski of Essex County DA Jonathan Blodgett's Office had asked for a bail condition requiring the defendant to stay away from all elementary and junior high schools.

Reeves' lawyer argued against the restriction saying his client is an expert in assessment of teachers and students, and gives lectures and seminars throughout the country. Often times the consulting includes visits to schools where he has contact with adults, not children, Stern said.

Reeves is the founder of The Leadership and Learning Center, which serves school systems around the world, according to the center's Web Site.

It also states he is the author of 30 books and numerous articles on leadership and organizational effectiveness.

Reeves is due back in Lynn District Court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 24.


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