Everett coach pleads not guilty to abusing boy, 12
By Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff
MALDEN -- A longtime custodian and basketball coach from Everett pleaded not guilty today to child rape after he was accused of a repeatedly abusing a 12-year-old boy.
Robert Shea, a 57-year-old with graying hair, stood stoically in Malden District Court, where he was ordered held on $15,000 cash bail.
Defense attorney Mark Griffith said that his client was shocked by the allegations and denied all the charges. He said Shea has worked for Everett schools for 25 years, which included 14 years as the head junior varsity basketball coach at Everett High School. Shea went beyond the requirements of his job, Griffith said, and won a Golden Apple award for his extra effort.
Griffith said that Shea was like a big brother to his accuser and he pointed out that all the visits with his client took place with full knowledge of his mother.
Prosecutors allege that Shea repeatedly molested the boy from May 2007 to December 2007. Shea and the boy live in the same neighborhood and he befriended him, prosecutors said. The boy and his mother reported the alleged abuse to police on Friday.
Shea is charged with two counts of child rape and three counts of indecent assault and battery.
