Foxborough to Host Community Forum for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention

In light of the recent disclosures of sexual abuse in Foxborough, the Foxborough Public Schools, police department and Hockomock Area YMCA has come together to offer a community prevention forum for child sexual abuse prevention.

The forum, which will be held at the Ahern Middle School auditorium on Monday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m., will provide an important opportunity to bring the community together to discuss the issues of child sexual abuse, learn more about its devastating impact and to find out together as a community, what Foxborough can do to prevent it. 

This meeting will demonstrate that child sexual abuse is an issue that affects everyone, not just those that were abused and their family members. It will reinforce that the cost, both human and economic, is high, but that the solution of prevention is inexpensive and effective. This meeting will help illustrate that child sexual abuse can be prevented in real-time and reinforce that by participating in a prevention solution, every adult in a community can be a part of a cultural change.

This presentation will be hosted by the Foxborough School Department and the Foxborough Police Department and facilitated and convened with the support of the Hockomock Area YMCA.

No pre-registration is required and all are welcomed to attend.

Allegations surfaced in September that a former Foxborough teacher and youth leader, William Sheehan, allegedly abused multiple children under the age of 15 in town over 30 years ago.

William E. Sheehan taught in the Foxborough Public Schools district from the late 1960s to 1981, served 19 years as a local Boy Scouts Scoutmaster and 20 years in numerous roles at Cocasset River Park, including a swimming instructor and the waterfront director.

Sheehan, now 73, moved from Foxborough to Florida in 1981. He currently resides at an assisted living facility in Fort Myers, Fla.

Three alleged victims came forward – separately – to Foxborough Police in August accusing Sheehan of multiple sexual crimes committed against each of them. A warrant for Sheehan's arrest was obtained from the Wrentham District Court on Sept. 12 but police were not able to arrest the former Foxborough resident, citing poor health. A Sept. 28 article in The News-Press of Fort Myers, Fla. says Sheehan is currently a late-stage Alzheimer's patient.

To read more on the allegations against Sheehan, click the following articles:

• UPDATE: Former Foxborough Teacher Accused of Sex Abuse Reportedly Suffering from Alzheimer's
• Former Foxborough Teacher Accused of Sexual Assault on Multiple Children
• New abuse allegation surfaces for former Lee County teacher (The News-Press of Fort Myers)
• Man too sick to arrest (The News-Press of Fort Myers)