A Boston school security official has pleaded not guilty to a rape charge stemming from an alleged assault inside a Massachusetts State Police barracks on Martha’s Vineyard. Prosecutors said an Irish woman was found naked and distressed outside the Oak Bluffs facility after allegedly fleeing the building. The defendant, Edward Brown, was arrested in Boston and released on $10,000 cash bail after his Oct. 13 arraignment. He is due back in court on Dec. 11.
The allegations concern an incident prosecutors said occurred on Aug. 15 after Brown and the woman met at a bar in Oak Bluffs. Authorities said the investigation involved witness accounts, messages, transportation records and biological evidence. Brown’s attorney said he denies the allegations and intends to present his defense in court.
| 1) | Alleged assault and emergency response |
| 2) | Identification and investigative evidence |
| 3) | Arrest, charges, and court conditions |
| 4) | Police housing policy and official response |
| 5) | Defense position and next court date |
Alleged assault and emergency response
Prosecutors said the alleged assault occurred inside the State Police barracks in Oak Bluffs during the early morning hours of Aug. 15. The woman, who was visiting from Ireland, allegedly met Brown at a local bar before losing consciousness and later waking up naked. According to the account presented in court, she told investigators that a man held her down despite her kicking and screaming.
Police received two 911 calls at about 1 a.m. and found the woman outside the barracks in distress. Prosecutors said she reported asking for water and then fleeing when the alleged attacker left the room. Officers observed bruises on her legs and a red mark on her neck. She later returned to Ireland, and investigators collected biological samples for comparison.
Identification and investigative evidence
The investigation began with information from a bouncer at the bar, who did not know the suspect’s name but recognized that he was associated with state troopers and had a photograph. Oak Bluffs police sent the image to Ryan Costello, a trooper who prosecutors said had been Brown’s college friend and had allowed him to stay at the barracks.
Prosecutors said a lawyer for Costello later provided investigators with text-message screenshots. They alleged that Brown gave differing accounts of whether the woman entered the barracks. Detectives also obtained a warrant for Brown’s Uber records, which prosecutors said showed a ride from the bar to the barracks shortly before the emergency calls. The driver reportedly described the woman as highly intoxicated and Brown as not intoxicated.
Arrest, charges, and court conditions
Oak Bluffs police, working with Boston police investigators, arrested Brown on Oct. 9 at Boston Latin Academy, where he worked in school security. Prosecutors said suspected cocaine was found in his wallet during the arrest. Brown, 27, was charged in connection with the alleged Aug. 15 attack and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment.
The judge released Brown on $10,000 cash bail, although prosecutors had requested $50,000. He was ordered to stay away from the woman and potential witnesses. If convicted, prosecutors said he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender. The charges remain allegations, and the case will proceed through the court system.
Police housing policy and official response
The barracks became a central focus of the investigation because prosecutors said Brown was staying there as a guest of a trooper assigned to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer. Investigators executed court-authorized searches, but prosecutors said the woman’s clothing and phone were not recovered from the facility.
Massachusetts State Police said the agency was cooperating with the criminal investigation and conducting an internal review of visitor authorization procedures, housing rules and compliance requirements. Following the case, the agency stopped allowing guests to stay in police housing on Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. Oak Bluffs police said their department developed probable cause and obtained the warrants used in the investigation.
Defense position and next court date
Brown’s lawyer, Anthony Ellison, said his client denies the allegations, has confidence in the legal process and will mount a vigorous defense. Brown attempted to speak twice during the arraignment, but his attorney and the judge advised him not to do so.
The case remains pending, with Brown scheduled to return to court on Dec. 11. The prosecution’s evidence, including the woman’s account, witness information, digital records and biological testing, will be evaluated as the proceedings continue. No conviction has been entered.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Edward Brown pleaded not guilty to a rape charge tied to an alleged Aug. 15 incident. |
| 2 | Police said the woman was found distressed outside the Oak Bluffs barracks after fleeing. |
| 3 | Investigators used witness information, text messages, Uber records and biological evidence. |
| 4 | Brown was released on $10,000 cash bail and ordered to avoid the woman and witnesses. |
| 5 | State police ended guest stays at housing on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket after the case. |
Summary
The Martha’s Vineyard case centers on an alleged sexual assault inside a police barracks and the subsequent investigation by Oak Bluffs and Boston authorities. Brown has denied the accusation through his attorney and remains entitled to the presumption of innocence. The criminal proceedings, including the review of physical and digital evidence, will determine how the allegations are resolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Edward Brown accused of?
Prosecutors accuse Brown of raping a woman inside a Massachusetts State Police barracks on Martha’s Vineyard on Aug. 15. He has pleaded not guilty.
What happened after the alleged attack?
Police said the woman fled the barracks and was found naked and distressed outside after emergency calls were made at about 1 a.m. Officers reported seeing bruises and a mark on her neck.
What are Brown’s current court conditions?
Brown was released on $10,000 cash bail and ordered to stay away from the alleged victim and witnesses. He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 11.
