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Stonehill College student pleads not guilty to charges he raped 8-year-old

Print Posted by Andrew Ryan, Globe Metro Desk March 22, 2011 02:11 PM

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By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

A Stonehill College junior today pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape of a child with force and other charges for allegedly sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl he was tutoring at a Brockton elementary school, officials said.

Brockton police

Kevin Treseler

Kevin Treseler appeared in Brockton District Court where District Court Judge John Canavan set bail at $20,000 cash, according to a spokeswoman for Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.

Treseler is also charged with two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old and allegedly committed the crimes on a number of days during this year’s semester, according to Cruz’ office.

Treseler’s attorney, Kari D Cincotta, declined comment.

Martin McGovern, spokesman for the Easton college, said the school suspended Treseler after he was arrested by Brockton police on Monday.

In a statement, the school said its police department is cooperating with Brockton police as the investigation into the alleged assault by Treseler continues.

According to McGovern and Jocelyn Meek, spokeswoman for the Brockton public schools, Treseler worked as a math tutor in a third-grade class at the Angelo Elementary School. He is accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl, officials said.

Meek said Treseler and other Stonehill College students participate in the tutoring program under the supervision of a teacher. The tutoring takes place in a regular classroom and usually is conducted in the rear of the classroom, Meek said.

McGovern said Treseler was tutoring at the school as a part of a federal work study program called America Counts. He said Stonehill is provided federal money that the school then uses to pay the students to do the classroom work.

About 15 Stonehill students are currently participating, McGovern said.

Meek said Treseler has worked as a tutor since January of this year, and that he had worked at the school during another semester. She said the school system performed a criminal background check on Treseler before allowing him into the classroom.

The school system issued a statement saying that "we are providing counseling and other services to the child and to any student who needs it, and we remain committed to our mission of providing the highest quality education.''