Ex-Assabet Volleyball Coach On Trial For Inappropriate Touching

WOBURN, MA -- A former Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School girls' volleyball coach from Marlborough is on trial in Middlesex Superior Court accused of sexually assaulting a female player dating back nearly a decade.

According to the district attorney’s office, Jeremiah Lee Encarnacion, of Marlborough, was the girls’ varsity volleyball coach in 2008 and 2009 at the school in Marlborough. While there, he allegedly made “lewd” comments, both verbally and via text messages. He is also accused of improperly touching at least one girl on both school grounds and on bus trips to away games.

The victim came forward with the allegations several years ago and Encarnacion was indicted in 2014.

However, before the trial began this week, prosecutors dropped one count of indecent assault and battery against Encaracion. And Judge Peter Krupp on Friday found Encarnacion not guilty on two counts of accost and annoy a person of the opposite sex.

But Encarnacion, 32, of Marlborough, still faces three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over and one count of accost and annoy a person of the opposite sex. He has denied the allegations.

During her testimony on Friday, a former teammate of the victim's testified that she was with several of her friends when "Coach J'' called late at night and he asked if he could bring alcohol and "hang out.''

(Neither the victim nor those who testified are being identified in this story due to the allegations of sexual assault.)

"We took it as a joke,'' the witness testified, "but I thought it was weird and it made me uncomfortable that he wanted to hang out with us and offered us booze.''

The former player testified that it was obvious that the alleged victim was Encarnacion's "favorite,'' since she always played and was named MVP of the season without earning it.

Another prosecution witness testified that while riding on the team bus to a game, Encarnacion and the alleged victim were sharing a seat. She testified she saw Encarnacion put his hand on the alleged victim's knee during the ride.

But defense attorney Frank Santisi had a parade of witnesses who testified they never saw any inappropriate touching by Encarnacion toward any player on the bus, at practices or during games.

If there was any touching, Santisi suggested it was a congratulatory "pat" by a coach to a player with no sexual or inappropriate overtones.

They jury will have to decide where to draw the line between a friendly player"pat'' and unwanted sexual touching.

Photo of Jeremiah Lee Encarnacion in Middlesex Superior Court by Lisa Redmond/lisa.redmond@patch.com.