Victim Says Waltham Principal Failed To Stop Alleged Sex Abuse
WALTHAM (CBS) - A former principal at Waltham High School is being sued by a graduate, who claims he was sexually abused by a teacher. The victim says the principal was aware others had been abused before him, but failed to stop it.
Michael Phillips, who is now 20-years-old, says that in 2005, Robert Darcey tricked him and a fellow student. Darcey allegedly told the 14-year-old boys they would be getting a massage by a woman and they'd get 50 dollars for it. Darcey then blindfolded the boys, put on a wig and false fingernails and sexually assaulted the boys.
When Phillips went to police, he discovered that Darcey had allegedly pulled the same thing on another boy in 2002, and that it came to the attention of principal John Graceffa. "Mr. Graceffa was made aware , by three different people, of the abuse, but he did nothing," says Phillips' attorney, Carmen Durso. "If Graceffa would have acted, my client would not have been abused three years later."
WBZ-TV's Bill Shields reports
"I felt bad going to police, but Mr. Darcey betrayed us," says Phillips. "We had trust in Mr. Darcey. The whole episode set me back, but with the support of my family and friends, I'm feeling stronger."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports
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Darcey died in 2006, shortly after being arrested.
John Graceffa was recently elected to the Waltham School Committee.
