Crime
Richard Magrath, a DCF social worker since last year, met with a Boston woman in her home to discuss her two children with special needs, prosecutors said.
A former social worker with the state’s Department of Children and Families is accused of raping the mother of a family he was assigned to, prosecutors announced.
Richard Magrath, 31, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape in Boston Municipal Court Central Wednesday, court records show. His bail was set at $20,000, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office said.
Magrath, a DCF social worker since last year, allegedly met with a Boston woman in her home to discuss her two children with special needs earlier this month, Hayden’s office said. During the visit, Magrath complimented the woman and touched her arm, which made the woman uncomfortable, prosecutors said.
A few hours later, Magrath allegedly returned to the home.
“He entered the victim’s home, grabbed her arm, and said, “nobody needs to know about this,” while guiding her to the couch and exposing his genitals,” Hayden’s office said. “Magrath then raped the victim. Before leaving, he said he would see her during the next scheduled visit.”
The woman reported the assault to Boston police, and Magrath was arrested Tuesday.
Magrath was ordered to Suffolk County Jail in lieu of posting bail, according to court records. His lawyer could not be reached for comment.
If he makes bail, the judge ordered Magrath to have no contact with the victim, the victim’s family, and all prior DCF clients, according to prosecutors. He is ordered to stay in Massachusetts under GPS monitoring and away from the victim’s address.
He is due back in court late next month for a probable cause hearing.
“Needless to say, this set of facts represents an extraordinary abuse of power and access,” Hayden said. “In addition to harming the victim, this man harmed the many DCF workers who provide essential services day in and day out to people throughout Massachusetts.”
DCF did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday night.
Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.
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