High school staffer charged with rape of a child, released on bail

YARMOUTH — Daniel Robles of West Yarmouth was arrested Nov. 7 for indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14 and rape of a child.

Robles, a special education assistant and a boys track and field assistant at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, was arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Nov. 7, with bail ordered at $75,000. Robles was released on a $7,500 cash bail.

There is a five-year age difference between Robles and the victim, according to Barnstable District Court docket report.

Robles is scheduled to appear for a probable cause hearing Dec. 14, where the case could be moved to Barnstable Superior Court, his attorney, William Gens of Boston-based Gens & Stanton P.C., said.

"In a case like this, it's not unusual at all for charges to get reduced from a rape charge to indecent assault and battery, or even all the way to a simple assault and battery," Gens said. "That sometimes happens, and if it does, the case will remain in district court as a misdemeanor."

Although Robles is employed by the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School district, there is no connection between the investigation and Robles’ place of employment, according to the Yarmouth Police Department.

Upon learning of the arrest, school administrators placed Robles on administrative leave, according to the police report. It's unclear whether he is on paid or unpaid administrative leave.

Carol Woodbury, superintendent of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District, did not immediately return calls or emails to the Times for comment. Robles is listed as a special education assistant at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School on his LinkedIn profile.

Timeline of accusations goes back years

The timeline of when the complaints against Robles were first reported is vague. While the purported victim was 14-years-old at the time of the alleged crimes, the minor has now reached the late teens, Gens said.

"The charges do extend back to quite some time," he said.

Attorney said there is no evidence at this time

Because there are no percipient (firsthand) witnesses or forensics, such as a rape kit, the case will only involve conflicting accounts of what occurred, Gens said.

In addition to the rape and indecent assault and battery accusations, there are allegations of Robles and the alleged victim, sending lewd photographs to one another. The alleged victim was unable to provide any photographic evidence to police, Gens said.

"The police, apparently don't have them (photos) and are rooting around the intestines of Instagram looking for them," he said. "The prosecution would need to provide some degree of corroboration. But they (police) haven't claimed to have any (evidence) beyond the accusations of the alleged victim."

The collateral consequences of a rape charge or an indecent assault and battery charge have the power to derail Robles' career, regardless of the outcome, Gens said.

"A rape charge or an indecent assault and battery charge are extremely onerous," he said. "It's like the mark of Cain and that's what ends up being fought over more than anything else in many cases."

Emails sent to Robles from the Times were not returned.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: D-Y school staffer charged with rape of a child, Dec. 14 hearing set