Educator's Assault Case Continued to Late June

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 June 28.

Douglas Reeves, 58, of 100 Beacon St., #6, Boston, was scheduled for a pretrial hearing at Lynn District Court on Friday, May 31, but the court had too many cases and not enough judges to hear them, according to court officials.

The defendent was at the court house with his lawyer, Max Stern.

Several earlier hearings tied to the case were continued, as well, including a compliance and election hearing on Feb. 8, they day the Blizzard of 2013 hit.

At a compliance and election hearing the defendant can elect whether to have a jury trial.

In addition, at the compliance hearing, a judge determines whether both sides have complied with motions and discovery.

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

"It's simply not true," he 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.