A 56-year-old Winthrop police officer is facing charges of raping a child after his arrest on the night of Christmas, authorities said. Lt. James Feeley was arraigned in East Boston District Court Wednesday and is being held on $200,000 bail, with Boston 25 News reporting that he's charged with aggravated rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14.
During the arraignment, Feeley's defense attorney argued for a lower bail amount, stating that his client had come forward with the confession and had already brought "shame and embarrassment" upon his family and the department. Feeley has been a member of the Winthrop Police Department for over two decades and recently served as a medic for the Metro North Special Operations Unit, as per The Boston Herald.
The victim, who was under 12 years old, reported the assault to Boston Children's Hospital on Tuesday. Court documents alleged that the sexual abuse by Feeley began roughly a year ago. Following the arraignment, Judge Griffin set the bail amount and ordered Feeley to remain in the Commonwealth, surrender his passport and firearms, and refrain from having contact with children under the age of 16. NBC Boston also highlighted that Feeley was ordered to wear an ankle monitor if released on bail.
Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty released a statement saying that Feeley had been placed on administrative leave and that Massachusetts State Police were conducting the criminal investigation. Delehanty told state police that he had feared Feeley was suicidal after finding him at his parents' gravesite on Christmas Night, where Feeley expressed he was "really in a bad way" and later confessed to the rape and assault allegations, according to Boston 25 News.
Defense attorney Nitin Dalal reportedly told the judge that Feeley needs mental health treatment, and this was a factor in the prosecutor's request for him to surrender his weapons."He is feeling guilt, remorse, embarrassment, humiliation," Dalal said, in a statement obtained by NBC Boston. Should Feeley be convicted of the charges against him, he will face at least 10 years in prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2024.
