Boston Public School Official Charged with Rape of Former Middle School Student

BOSTON, December 14, 2020— The Dean of Students at the Timilty Middle School in Roxbury was arraigned today on charges of aggravated rape of a child who previously attended the school, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said.

MANUEL MENDES, 38, of Hyde Park, was arrested Friday on a warrant charging him with four counts of aggravated rape of a child under the age of 16.  He was arraigned today in the West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court. 

Assistant District Attorney Amanda Paull of District Attorney Rollins’ Child Protection Unit requested bail of $100,000 and that Mr. Mendes stay away from and have no contact with the victim and witnesses in the case, stay away from the Timilty Middle School, have no contact with past or present students of the school, have no unsupervised contact with any child under age 16, surrender his passport, and submit to GPS monitoring in the event he is to be released on bail.  Instead, Judge Catherine Ham set bail in the amount of $35,000, but imposed all of the Commonwealth’s other requested conditions of release.

Prosecutors were unable to request that Mr. Mendes be held based on dangerousness under Massachusetts General Law Ch. 276 Sec. 58A because Mr. Mendes is not charged with an offense that would make him eligible under the statute.  Despite the egregious nature of the charges against Mr. Mendes, the Supreme Judicial Court has 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.   DA Rollins has repeatedly made clear that she hopes to work with the Legislature to change that.

ADA Paull told the court that Mr. Mendes knew the victim as a former student of the Timilty Middle School.  The victim took part in a forensic interview last month and disclosed multiple assaults by Mr. Mendes beginning in February 2020 and continuing until the summer.  Digital evidence, including text messages, related to the allegations were recovered during the course of investigation. 

“This is the ultimate betrayal of a child’s trust,” District Attorney Rollins said.  “As an educator and school official, Mr. Mendes had a duty to provide a safe and supportive environment for this young person to learn and grow.  Instead, he allegedly used his position of trust and authority to prey on the victim. 

“I would like to encourage parents in the Timilty community and everywhere to talk to your children.  Make sure they know that they can talk to you about things that make them uncomfortable or scared.  If they raise any issues that cause concern, families in Suffolk County should reach out to my office or our partners in law enforcement or at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County.  There are resources and services available to children and parents.”

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 can be reached at 617-779-2146.  District Attorney Rollins’ Child Protection Unit can be reached at 617-619-4300.  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.

Brittany Doherty is the Victim Witness Advocate assigned to the case.  Detective Jeff Firnstein of the Boston Police Department Crimes Against Children Unit is leading the investigation.  Mr. Mendes was represented at arraignment by attorney Simon Glik.  The case returns to court January 15, 2021.

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven 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.