$50G bail for teen suspected of child rape, sexual assault

LYNN – A judge ordered $50,000 cash bail for a Marblehead teen police said raped and sexually assaulted three 13- and 14-year-old girls. Police also said the 18-year-old defendant admitted to some of the charges.”This defendant finds opportunities to be alone with 13- and 14-year-old girls and takes advantage of them,” Essex Assistant District Attorney Mark Byron said in Lynn District Court Monday.Matthew Labrie, 18, of 10 Jersey St., Marblehead, was arrested on a warrant for statutory rape of a child, three counts; indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, three counts; and witness intimidation. He was arraigned on the charges Monday in Lynn District Court where a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.Police met the Marblehead Veterans Middle School principal early in January after the principal reported learning a student was sexually involved with an 18-year-old man, Byron told the court, summarizing from Marblehead Police reports.The first alleged victim initially denied any sexual contact with Labrie, but “showed signs of deception,” Marblehead Police Detective Sean Brady wrote in a report.The girl later told police she went to Labrie’s house to vent about having a bad day and performed oral sex on him. Labrie allegedly told the first alleged victim “not to tell anyone about what happened because it was wrong,” Byron told the court.The second alleged victim told police she met Labrie through the third alleged victim and that Labrie sexually assaulted her on two occasions; once at Chandler Hovey Park and once at the defendant’s house, according to police.The third alleged victim told police Labrie sexually assaulted her and then raped her when she visited him at his home over Thanksgiving.Byron said the third alleged victim told Labrie she wasn’t ready to have sex, and Labrie told her he thought she was ready and pulled down her pants and underwear.”The alleged victim was crying and telling the defendant it hurt,” Byron reported. “He told her you’ll get used to the pain.”Byron told the court Labrie admitted to the alleged incidents with the first and third alleged victims.After police told the second alleged victim that Labrie was arrested, she allegedly admitted she and Labrie had oral sex.Byron requested Labrie be held on $50,000 cash bail.Defense attorney John Ruehrwein said Labrie had no record, went to speak with police and cooperated with officers twice, had stayed away from the alleged victims and was prepared to fight the charges.”This young man has been bullied when in school and befriended people who were younger than him,” Ruehrwein told the court, acknowledging this was perhaps a poor choice in peers.Ruehrwein said he would not comment on the allegations but “there were inconsistencies in the police report.”He requested a $5,000 cash bail, which Labrie’s family could post.Judge James LaMothe ordered $50,000 cash bail, calling the allegations “particularly disturbing.” He scheduled Labrie to return to court March 3.Labrie’s attorney and family declined to comment outside the courtroom.