**Winthrop Police Lieutenant Faces Child Rape Charges**
A Winthrop Police lieutenant, James Feeley, appeared in court today to face charges of child rape. Feeley, a 20-year veteran of the police force, has been charged with one count of child rape and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child.
According to court documents, Feeley was discovered last night in a cemetery near his parents’ gravesite, armed with a gun. When approached by police, he confessed to the officers about the sexual crime he had committed against a child under the age of 12.
Following the incident, Feeley was taken for a psychiatric evaluation while the victim was transported to Boston Children’s Hospital. The child disclosed that Feeley had previously engaged in similar actions on two separate occasions.
Chief Terence Delehanty confirmed that Feeley has been placed on leave from the Winthrop Police Department pending the outcome of a criminal investigation led by State Police Detectives assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Feeley’s bail has been set at $200,000. However, his defense attorney stated that he will be unable to meet this amount and will be returned to Nashua Street Jail in Boston.
This is an ongoing story, and we encourage you to stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.
