Case Continued for Education Consultant Charged with Assaulting Child

A court hearing for an education consultant alleged to have committed an indecent assault on a 9-year-old girl in Swampscott was continued to Jan. 7 in Lynn District Court.

Douglas Reeves, 58, of 100 Beacon St., #6, Boston, was scheduled for a compliance and election hearing on Monday, Dec. 10, but the case was continued.

Patch will publish information on the reason for the continuance as it becomes available.

At a compliance and election hearing a judge determines whether both sides have complied with motions and discovery.

In addition, the defendant can elect whether to have a jury trial.

Reeves' pretrial conference report stated that a motion would be filed on matters upon which the prosecution and defense have not reached agreement.

They are motions to include or exclude prior bad acts.

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

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 is a former volunteer for the Swampscott High debate team.