Hockey coach accused of assaulting boy in Marblehead after school program

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. -- A North Shore hockey coach has been accused of assaulting a child.

According to the Essex County District Attorney, 31-year-old Christopher Prew of Marblehead, was arraigned for four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and aggravated rape of a child.

The indictments allege Prew indecently assaulted and orally raped a 9-year-old boy on various dates between September 2017 and January 2018.

Marblehead police said the boy told his mother what happened when she asked why he wanted to stop playing hockey.

Prew was arrested on Feb. 8 where he was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Feb 14.

The boy was in an after school hockey program run by Prew, but the program is not affiliated with Marblehead Youth Hockey Association.

His attorney, Sean F. Donahue, released a statement and said his client will eventually be vindicated:

"My client, Christopher Prew, is accused of very serious crimes. Understandably, he and his family are devastated by these alarming accusations.

Mr. Prew, who, coincidentally, is very well-respected in his community, recently appeared before the Lynn District Court and entered a plea of "not guilty" to these disturbing charges.  His plea was entered into the record.

Over the next several weeks, my client, who, until recently, was intimately involved with the mother of the child, and I will closely examine these horrific accusations.

While child abuse laws aim to protect children, the justice system is set up to vindicate those who are wrongfully accused.  We expect that Mr. Prew will eventually be vindicated!"

Parents who spoke to Boston 25 News said this is a reminder about how important it is to know who you're with your kids.

“As a parent, of course you feel jittery. But then I also see what I see. Not many of them is like that,” parent Mamet Karaca said. “One bad apple doesn’t make all the rest go bad, you know? As far as I’m concerned, I know the other coaches and they are nice people.”

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