Former Employee of The Woburn Boys and Girls Club Indicted on Child Abuse Charges

WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo announced today that a former employee of the Woburn Boys and Girls Club has been indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury in connection with child abuse allegations dating back to 2000 that involved a minor that he met at the club.
 
Christopher Elwell, 33, of Woburn was indicted on charges of rape of a child (three counts), indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of fourteen, dissemination of matter harmful to a minor, and posing a child in a state of nudity.
 
An arraignment date has not yet been set.
 
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, working with the Woburn Police Department and the current management of the Club, launched an investigation into the allegations in late 2012.  During that investigation, authorities allegedly learned that in the Fall of 1999, the defendant, then employed as the Junior Director of Physical Education, first met the victim, then a 12-year-old member of the club. It is alleged that soon thereafter the defendant began to meet privately with the victim, and initiated conversations with her about sex.  Subsequently, it is alleged that he then began to communicate with her outside of the club, often about sexual matters. 
 
Over the next three years, through the Fall of 2003, the defendant allegedly instructed the victim to engage in an inappropriate sexual relationship with him, both at the club and at the defendant’s home.
 
It is alleged that during this time period the defendant showed the victim pornography, as well as videos of himself without clothing and encouraged her to take pictures of herself without clothing for him.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

This case is being investigated by the Woburn Police Department.  Members of the public with information that they believe may be helpful to the investigation can contact the Woburn Police Department at 781-933-1212.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Megan Williams of the District Attorney’s Child Protection Unit.  The Victim Witness Advocate is Joanne Szeto.  The Child Interview Specialist is Alicia Compitello.