The Berkshire Eagle reports that the man accused of sexually assaulting three elementary students while working as an adjustment counselor at the former Stockbridge Plain School was investigated in 2004 for allegedly inappropriately touching two of those students, though criminal charges weren’t filed at the time.
In June 2004, two 10-year-old students told investigators that Scott Muir of Church Street, Stockbridge, had touched or fondled them inappropriately on several occasions. These claims were investigated by Massachusetts State Police Berkshire Detective Unit and the local office of the Department of Children and Families, according to Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless.
The Eagle reports that in a statement, Capeless said the investigation centered on “several” students, but “the information obtained at that time did not warrant the filing of criminal charges against Muir.”
A third former student came forward in March of this year, accusing Muir of pulling her out of class as many as two times a week and bringing her to his office and raping her while she was in the first, second and third grades. These alleged incident occurred in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Following an interview with the alleged victim, who is now 16, police brought in the two other students for follow-up interviews. During those conversations, the students said Muir would take them out of class and bring them to his office in 2003 and 2004. While in his office with the door closed, they claim, Muir fondled them on multiple occasions. One of the students alleged Muir raped her.
Muir, 36, was arraigned last week on four counts of rape of a child with force, six counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and one count of attempt to commit a crime — indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. He was released on $10,000 cash bail and is due back in court on May 3.
Muir is a captain of the fire department, the town emergency management director, facilities manager for the Town Offices and a member of the Board of Health.
