Three US teens arrested for sexual assault at camp

School Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi said 161 students attended the camp, with 19 adult supervisors. He said those included 61 soccer players. Photo / Thinkstock

Three high school soccer players attending a sports camp in western Massachusetts have been arrested on charges they sexually assaulted three younger campers.

Berkshire District Attorney David Capeless said the assaults occurred Aug. 25 at Camp Lenox in Otis, where Somerville High School was holding an annual team-building retreat. He said the three juniors, members of the junior varsity team, assaulted three freshmen in a cabin.

Seventeen-year-old Galileo Mondol and two 16-year-old boys were arrested Friday. Mondol faces one count of aggravated rape of a child, two counts of assault with intent to rape a child, one count of indecent assault and battery, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of intimidation of a witness or other person.

The 16-year-olds face similar charges. Their names weren't released.

Mondol's attorney, William Korman, said Saturday that he is confident his client will be exonerated.

"His family supports him 100 percent. He is a 17-year-old kid - he's just turned 17 a month ago - he's never been in trouble before," Korman said. "These allegations are absolutely shocking, and I'm confident that when this case finally comes to trial, he's going to be exonerated of any and all charges and any and all allegations."

Mondol is being held on $100,000 cash bail as he awaits arraignment scheduled for Tuesday in Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield. The 16-year-olds will be arraigned in Berkshire Juvenile Court, also in Pittsfield.

"My client emphatically maintains his innocence," Korman said. "When we go to court on Tuesday, we're going to enter a plea of not guilty because my client is, in fact, not guilty."

Somerville officials said they learned of the allegations Tuesday and immediately told authorities. They said the investigation indicates it was an isolated incident.

School Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi said 161 students attended the camp, with 19 adult supervisors. He said those included 61 soccer players.

"All of us, frankly, are horrified at these allegations," Pierantozzi said Friday at a news conference in Somerville with the mayor and other school officials. "We will ensure to the best of our ability that everyone and anyone who needs support will have it."

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Rodrique Ngowi can be reached at www.twitter.com/ngowi

- AP