State Alleges 31-Year-Old Man Engaged in Inappropriate Relationship With Teen

A 31-year-old former basketball coach was ordered held without bail for violating a harassment protection order Monday afternoon.

But it is allegations of a previous sexual relationship with a teenager that has the Middlesex District Attorney’s office concerned.

According to commonwealth attorney Amanda Rowan, Jason Coughlin, 31, of 13 Hovey St., engaged in a “sexually inappropriate relationship” with a 14-year-old girl. 

Coughlin’s attorney Nicholas Felici, acknowledged that there was “mutual admiration” between the 31-year-old and the 14-year-old victim. According to Felici, Coughlin has known the girl since she was 9 years old.

Rowan described in court today that Woburn Police investigated charges of an inappropriate relationship between Coughlin and a teenager for several months.

The teenager’s family had asked for, and received, a harassment protection order against Coughlin. He was told in court in March and again in April that he could not contact the victim in any way.

The state alleges that Coughlin and the victim spoke to each other via text message twice. Rowan said today that investigators learned that the victim and Coughlin engaged in a two-and-a-half hour text conversation last night, where they allegedly referred to each other as “husband” and “wife” and made comments about “being together.”

Coughlin turned himself into the  Monday afternoon and was arrested on charges of violating the protection order. He was arraigned in shortly before 3:30 p.m.

Coughlin was held on $5,000 bail and will be in court again on June 13. 

Felici denied the charges on behalf of Coughlin, saying that the victim is “obsessed” with his client.

“This is a rush to justice,” said Felici. “There is no question.”

Felici charged that Coughlin has been the victim of “vigilante justice” since authorities began investigating the case. According to Felici, Coughlin’s door has been broken in and his car tires have been slashed.

A neighbor of Coughlin’s said that the 31-year-old has lived on Hovey Street for about six years and coaches several basketball teams.

According to Internet searches, Coughlin has coached girls teams through the Mass Elite AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Basketball League. Coughlin was listed as the contact for an April 2 and 3 Spring Shootout Tournament, as well as a May 21 and 22 Spring Showdown Tournament. 

Coughlin was also listed as the contact person for the girls' fall basketball program of Mass Elite. His mailbox at 13 Hovey St. was labeled "Mass Elite" in March. Felici confirmed in court Monday that his client was an AAU coach.  

A search on Mass Elite’s Web site came up with no mention of Coughlin on its coaches’ page or on the teams' list. He was listed on the main page of the girls' program, as running "skill clinics" for the program in March. According to Felici, Coughlin quit his job as a basketball coach. Mass Elite contends that Coughlin was forced to resign.  

Coughlin is due in court next month.