Private school staffer accused of raping disabled teen turns himself in

WAREHAM, Mass. — The man sought for the alleged rape and sexual assault of a cognitively disabled student at a local private school has turned himself in to police.

On Friday, Phillip Houtman, 28, of New Bedford, turned himself in at the Wareham District Court after police released information this week saying they were looking for Houtman.

Middleborough Police said Houtman is accused of assaulting a 19-year-old student at the school.

He is being charged with two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability, rape, assault to rape, and open and gross lewdness.

A warrant for his arrest was issued on Thursday, Oct. 10 and police had been working to locate him since Thursday afternoon before he turned himself in.

Houtman maintains his innocence, and his mother says she believes him. She told Boston 25 News that they're wondering why people are lying about him despite him being nothing but good to the students.

"He's a blessing to us and too many," said his mother Linda. "This is a horrible thing that's happened, God is going to clear it all up because he's above all of it, he's got everything under control."

The New Bedford man is being held without bail. The alleged attack occurred in a dorm laundry room at Chamberlain International School in Middleboro. It may have been partly caught on surveillance.

"That's what hurts him the most, he says, 'Mom I do nothing but good for people, how can people lie?'" Linda Houtman claims. "Especially this young person because there was nothing bad that happened that day."

The male victim, who is on the autism spectrum, reported it the night of September 29 and Houtman hasn't been allowed back to the school since then. The school sent out a letter to parents saying they will examine and make changes to school policies that may be recommended. Those will likely include additional training for staff and instruction for students.

In court, the prosecution accused Houtman of not only rape but of sending and receiving inappropriate text messages with the victim. Meanwhile, the defense pointed to inconsistencies.

"If you examine the police report, you will see there are new statements, there are recantations, there's an allegation that one of the witness walked in and said, 'oh my god,' and then later [said] that never happened," the defense said.

"Phillip's going to be fine and Philip is going to come home and Philip is going to be innocent," said his mother Linda.

Houtman is expected to be back in court on Wednesday.

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