A Winthrop Police lieutenant is facing charges of child rape and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.
Police Lieutenant James Feeley was arraigned in East Boston District Court on Wednesday morning and ordered held on $200,000 bail. He is due back in court again on Jan. 29.
In the criminal complaint, it was alleged that Feeley “did unlawfully have sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse” with the victim and that the victim was “under 12 years of age.”
Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Hui said the assaults occurred over the past year. Feeley was arrested on Tuesday night after an investigation by State Police detectives assigned to Hayden’s office.
Hayden said his office has prosecutors and victim witness advocates specially trained to work with child victims of sexual assault.
“We have a far better understanding of the care and approach to child victims of violence and sexual assault than in the past, and this victim and the victim’s family will receive all the help and support they need as this case moves forward,” Hayden said.
On Wednesday morning, Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty issued a statement regarding Lt. James Feeley.
“James Feeley has been placed on administrative leave from the Winthrop Police Department pending the outcome of a criminal investigation headed by State Police Detectives assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office,” Delehanty stated.
The police chief added that any further media inquiries into this matter should be referred to the District Attorney’s Office.
Feeley was also ordered to stay away from the alleged victim in the case, surrender his passport and firearms, remain in the state, and to refrain from having contact with children under the age of 16.
Feeley has been with the Winthrop Police Department since 2002, according to his LinkedIn page.