A Boston firefighter was arrested on a slew of kid rape and trafficking prices in reference to what prosecutors described as his alleged “disturbing” sample of “repeated sexual abuse” of a younger woman.
James Corbett, 60, of Brockton, was ordered held on $25,000 bail after his arraignment in West Roxbury District Court docket Wednesday on one depend of trafficking an individual below 18 for sexual servitude, two counts of rape of a kid, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a toddler below 14, and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a toddler 14 and over.
Assistant Suffolk County District Lawyer Laura Montgomery stated the assaults on the woman occurred between Might 2018 and September 2024.
“These are extremely disturbing allegations involving repeated sexual abuse of a young female victim,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden stated in a press release. “Our office will provide this young woman and her family all the support they need as the court process moves forward.”
Corbett pleaded not responsible to the fees at his arraignment. He’s because of return to court docket on Dec. 22 for a possible trigger listening to.
He’s being held at Suffolk County Jail, per court docket data. Ought to he submit bail and be launched, the court docket ordered Corbett to dwelling confinement monitored by GPS, haven’t any contact with kids below 16, and give up his passport and any firearms, the DA’s workplace stated.
A warrant for his arrest was issued on Monday.
Corbett, a Boston firefighter, was paid $262,086 final 12 months, per metropolis payroll data.
His legal professional, Anthony Ellison, referred to as the allegations towards Corbett “nonsense.”
“There’s serious issues about the credibility, the motive and the timing of these allegations,” Ellison informed the Herald. “He’s an Army veteran, honorably discharged, has a family of his own, kids of his own, and then all of this nonsense comes up.”
Ellison stated Corbett was a firefighter “in good standing” earlier than the allegations, however wasn’t conscious of his present employment standing. He declined to reveal how his shopper is aware of the alleged sufferer.
“All I know is at the end of the day, he ain’t touching no kids,” Ellison stated. “That’s not even his MO. That’s not his character. Everybody who knows him will tell you he’s an upstanding guy. I don’t know this woman from the hole in the wall, but I know some things that I can’t divulge, but I don’t see him being convicted of this.”
Prosecutors stated in court docket that the sufferer was the daughter of Corbett’s former girlfriend, and the alleged sexual abuse befell on the girlfriend’s dwelling, in accordance with a Boston 25 Information video of the courtroom proceedings.
Mayor Michelle Wu stated Corbett has been positioned on administrative depart.
“These allegations would be a clear and egregious violation of public trust,” Wu stated in a press release. “Commissioner Burke has taken swift action to place this individual on administrative leave. My thoughts are with those impacted in this very troubling situation.”
The Boston Hearth Division didn’t reply to a request for remark.
A police report included in court docket paperwork, and summarized in a number of media experiences, describes a collection of incidents that started when the alleged sufferer was as younger as 11 years previous. The sufferer informed police that Corbett would watch her take compelled showers, and that the alleged abuse escalated to sexual assault.
The sufferer claims that Corbett would successfully pay her to maintain quiet in regards to the alleged sexual abuse, by permitting her to purchase objects together with his Amazon account, offering her with Amazon present playing cards, or sending her cash by way of CashApp, in accordance with the police report.
The police report states that the sufferer talked about having issue coping with the alleged extended abuse, and that she “completely shut down.”
Ricardo Arroyo, a former metropolis councilor and an legal professional for Corbett who spoke on his behalf throughout Wednesday’s arraignment, elaborated on Ellison’s statements questioning the motives of the allegations, telling Boston 25 Information that Corbett’s now ex-girlfriend not too long ago requested him for $80,000.
Corbett and his girlfriend break up final 12 months after relationship for 10 years, Arroyo stated.
“He’s going through some issues with prostate cancer,” Arroyo informed the outlet. “There was a money demand this month: Pay us this much, or there will be issues — and here we are.”
