He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in connection with pinching a 15-year-old boy’s buttocks in an East Longmeadow health club.
Daniel J. Curran, the Springfield juvenile court officer accused of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy in the locker room of an East Longmeadow health club, seen in Palmer District Court on February for a pretrial hearing.
PALMER – Daniel J. Curran, who has been on unpaid leave from his job as a Springfield juvenile court officer, plead guilty on Friday in Palmer District Court to a reduced charge in connection with pinching a 15-year-old boy’s buttocks in an East Longmeadow health club in 2009.
Curran’s job status was unclear Friday morning. He has been on unpaid leave since 2009, the year the incident happened.
Standing with his lawyer Michael O. Jennings, Curran, 39, said little except for his plea. He appeared before Judge Bethzaida Sanabria-Vega, who said Curran will be placed on probation for one year. Curran also must undergo counseling, and stay away from the victim, his family and the Healthtrax health club.
Curran, of Springfield, initially was charged with indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, which is a felony. That was reduced by the commonwealth to assault and battery, a misdemeanor. A conviction on the felony charge requires registration as a sex offender. A second charge of lewd, wanton and lascivious conduct was continued without a finding for one year.
Prosecutor Jennifer Fitzgerald described the events that happened two years ago. She said a 15-year-old boy went to exercise at a local fitness center in his hometown.
She said he swims in the pool, then goes to take a shower, and hears a nearby shower turn on. He feels someone “pinching his buttocks area,” then sees a man who “definitely has an erection,” and appears to be masturbating, she said. That man beckoned to the boy and said “come on,” Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said the boy “is terribly frightened,” gets dressed and reports the incident immediately to the health club staff. The boy also identified Curran as he walked by, she said.
Sanabria-Vega said she agreed with the district attorney’s recommendation for a guilty finding and probation for a year, which Jennings said they accepted.
Fitzgerald told the judge that the boy and his family were not in the courtroom, but supported the guilty finding. Fitzgerald described Curran’s behavior in the locker room as “reckless.” Curran also must pay a $50 victim witness fee and $65 per month probation fee.
Curran began work as court officer on Sept. 16, 2002 and made $51,799.18 annually.