Mom of suspect charged with witness intimidation
The mother of a coach accused of molesting his young hockey players has been charged with threatening the mother of one of his alleged victims, prosecutors said.
Louise Martino, 55, of Winthrop pleaded not guilty in Lynn District Court to a single count of witness intimidation for sending a threatening note via social media.
She was released on personal recognizance.
Prosecutors said the night after her son was last in court, Martino took to social media.
The mother of one of Christopher Prew’s accusers told police Martino threatened her, and following an investigation, Martino surrendered to Marblehead cops Saturday afternoon.
Back in February, Prew, Martino’s son, was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty to raping a 9-year-old boy. That boy is one of eight who have come forward with claims that Prew molested them.
Prew, 31, was indicted in Salem Superior Court last week on one count of aggravated rape of a child and four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
Police said Prew romanced a widow to get to her son, offered to teach the child how to skate, took him to buy hockey equipment, and then to area rinks. He was accused of molesting the boy in a hotel during a trip to a hockey tournament.
After the first boy came forward, more students accused Prew of indecent assault and battery, police said. All eight accusers are between the ages of 6 and 11, prosecutors said.
Yesterday, Judge Richard Mori agreed to the commonwealth’s request to order Prew’s mother not to have any direct or indirect contact with the alleged victims and their families, refrain from abusing alcohol, and not post anything derogatory about the victims and their families on social media.
Prew is due back in court for a dangerousness hearing Friday.
His mother is due back in court April 24.