Fenway Man Charged with Rape of a Minor

         BOSTON, March 30, 2021— A Boston man was arraigned yesterday on charges he sexually abused a teenager over a period of months, District Attorney Rachael Rollins said.

         TODD CORBETT, 53, of the Fenway area of Boston, was arraigned yesterday in the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court on three counts of aggravated rape of a child under 16 and one count of distribution of obscene material to a minor.  Prosecutors requested bail of $50,000 and conditions of release including home confinement, GPS monitoring, no use of the internet or any internet connected device, and that he have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 and stay away from locations where children congregate.  Judge Debra DelVecchio set bail at $15,000 and ordered Mr. Corbett to remain under home confinement, submit to GPS monitoring, stay away from anyone under age 18 and not access child pornography in the event he is to be released on bail.  At the request of prosecutors, Judge DelVecchio additionally revoked Mr. Corbett’s open bail for a period of 90 days in a pending case out of Middlesex County in which he is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine.

         Prosecutors were unable to request that Mr. Corbett, who was previously convicted of child pornography charges in Federal Court in 2013, be held based on dangerousness under Massachusetts General Law Ch. 276 Sec. 58A because the offenses he is charged with are ineligible under the statute.  The Supreme Judicial Court previously ruled that the offense of statutory rape of a child does not involve the predicate level of force or threat of force necessary to qualify under the dangerousness statute.  Recognizing that the current law does not reflect the coercive and injurious nature of child rape, District Attorney Rollins has promised to work with partners in the Legislature to amend the dangerousness statute.

         “This investigation represents the meticulous and collaborative efforts of my Office’s Crime Strategies Bureau and the Boston Police Department Human Trafficking and Internet Crimes Against Children units to share information and act quickly to rescue a child from a dangerous and traumatic situation, while taking steps to hold an accused child sex offender accountable,” District Attorney Rollins said.  “Crimes against children are among the most challenging cases that prosecutors encounter.  Through information-sharing and a multidisciplinary approach, every individual who worked on this case played a vital role in removing this young person from harm and protecting other children as well.”

         Boston Police officers initially responded to Mr. Corbett’s Queensberry Street residence on March 14, 2021, for a report of a stabbing.  While at the location, responding officers located a minor who had been reported missing for six months.

         Based on information gathered during the course of the investigation, prosecutors allege that Mr. Corbett forced the minor to have sex in return for housing, drugs and money over a period of several months.  He is also accused of playing child sexual abuse material (child pornography) in front of the victim.

         Mr. Corbett was placed under arrest on Saturday.

         “This individual is accused of manipulating and exploiting a vulnerable child, inflicting a lifetime of trauma and harm.  While we cannot undue what happened to the victim, my staff and I can ensure that this victim and every survivor of sexual abuse and exploitation has access to the resources and support necessary to begin the long journey toward healing,” District Attorney Rollins said.  “I’m grateful to my team that worked on this case and the collaborative work across units of the Boston Police Department to hold this individual accountable while ensuring the victim’s access to services.”

         The prosecution is being handled by District Attorney Rollins’ Crime Strategies Bureau (CSB).  This bureau was created by District Attorney Rollins in 2019 to improve her Office’s response to serious felonies and acts of violence through data-driven, evidence-based approaches.  The bureau is composed of Office’s Juvenile Unit, Gang Unit, Narcotics Unit, Human Trafficking and Exploitation Unit and the Crime Analysis Unit.  Under the CSB model, prosecutors assigned to these traditional prosecution teams collaborate in geographically-focused teams.  This model increases the ability of prosecutors and investigators to seamlessly share actionable intelligence and improves the way we investigate and prosecute some of the most serious offenses impacting Suffolk County communities. 

         While the victims and witnesses of any crime should call 911 in an emergency, there are additional resources available to report suspected crimes against children. In Suffolk County, survivors of child abuse and exploitation and their non-offending caretakers can receive comprehensive services at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County.  The CAC is one of 35 public and private agencies that have partnered since 2006 through Services to End Exploitation Now (SEEN) to provide services to survivors of commercial sexual exploitation.  The CAC can be reached at 617-779-2146.  Anyone who believes that a child in Massachusetts may be the victim of abuse can call the Department of Children and Families’ Child at Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200.  Those concerned that a child is being exploited online may report a Cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or www.cybertipline.com.

         In addition, survivors of human trafficking or those with information on or concerns about human trafficking can call the Polaris Project’s national human trafficking resource center hotline at 888-373-7888 or send a text to “BeFree” (233733).  In Suffolk County, survivors of commercial sexual exploitation of all ages can access services through My Life My Choice at 617-396-7807.

         The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Anna Holding of District Attorney Rollins’ Human Trafficking and Exploitation Unit.  Nicole Bresnahan is the assigned Victim Witness Advocate.  The assigned team received assistance from SCDAO’s Juvenile Unit, Child Protection Unit and Civilian Investigators.  Mr. Corbett was represented at arraignment by David Shea.  He returns to court April 30, 2021.

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.