A longtime Massachusetts high school basketball coach is facing explosive accusations after prosecutors say he gave an 18-year-old student alcohol and sexually assaulted her inside his home — while she was living under his foster care.
Scott Marino, 54, appeared in Woburn District Court on Thursday to face multiple charges tied to the alleged incident.
According to prosecutors, Marino — who served as head coach of the girls’ basketball team at Malden High School and worked as an educator at Linden School — took the teen to church on Ash Wednesday before driving into Boston to pick up dinner and alcohol.
Authorities say the pair stopped at a liquor store before heading back to Marino’s home in Stoneham, where he allegedly poured the student a margarita and a shot of tequila.
The teen reportedly told him she did not like the drink, but prosecutors say he continued urging her to consume more. She later began feeling sick and went to lie down in her room. That’s when, authorities allege, Marino sexually assaulted her.
Prosecutors emphasized that the young woman was living in foster care with Marino and his wife at the time — a detail they say makes the accusations especially disturbing.
“This is a relationship where the defendant was the victim’s foster parent,” prosecutor Jacob McCrindle said in court, according to local reports. “That’s a position of trust,” he added, noting Marino was also her teacher and longtime coach.
After the alleged assault, the teen used her phone to contact friends and a relative. Her aunt reportedly called 911 and rushed to the home. Prosecutors say the young woman ran out of the house when her aunt arrived and was taken to a local hospital for a sexual assault examination.
Marino’s defense attorney pointed to his clean record and long history in the community.
“He’s never been in court in his life. He’s a lifelong member of the community. He’s been a coach, he’s been a teacher,” attorney Kevin Mullen said.
Marino was arrested and charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, and one count of providing alcohol to a person under 21. He was released on $75,000 bail and has been placed on leave from Malden Public Schools as the investigation continues.
In a statement, the school district said it is fully cooperating with law enforcement and called the allegations “upsetting and distressing,” adding that student safety remains its highest priority.
A former player who spent four years on Marino’s team told a local outlet she was stunned by the charges.
“Very, very shocked,” she said. “It’s something I would have never expected at all.
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