Major Charge Dropped in Trivino Case
Former hockey star still faces six felony counts
Corey Trivino (MET’12) (left), the former BU hockey center and Hockey East lead scorer, will not face a grand jury after prosecutors dropped a major felony charge. Photo by Cydney Scott
A Brighton District Court judge yesterday granted a prosecution request to drop the most serious felony charge against former BU hockey star Corey Trivino for lack of evidence.
As a result of Suffolk County assistant district attorney Cameron Merrill’s request, Trivino will not have to go before a grand jury in Boston Superior Court. The former hockey player could have faced up to 20 years in state prison for that charge alone, assault with intent to commit rape.
“The evidence in the case was not enough to support a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt,” says Erika Gully-Santiago, a spokesperson for the Suffolk County district attorney.
Defense attorney Conrad Bletzer had no objections.
Trivino (MET’12) still faces six felony charges: three counts of indecent assault and battery and three counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime. Judge Patricia Bernstein set an April 27 court date to address those charges.
Under Massachusetts state law, indecent assault and battery and breaking and entering at night each carry a punishment of up to two and a half years in jail.
Trivino, wearing a black suit and accompanied by his parents, stood silently during the brief court exchange and then quickly left the building with his family.
The Toronto native was arrested the night of December 11 for allegedly entering the room of a female student in a BU residence hall several times and kissing and groping her against her will. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was later released on $25,000 bail.
Before his December arrest, Trivino was the lead scorer in Hockey East and had been drafted by the New York Islanders. As of Thursday, the NHL team had “nothing new to report.” It released a statement immediately following the hockey player’s arrest: “We know of the allegations against Corey, but at this time we do not know every piece of information. Until then, we’ll have no further comment.”
Trivino is not enrolled this semester, according to BU spokesperson Colin Riley.
On Monday, March 26, Trivino’s former teammate Max Nicastro (CGS’11, MET’13) will appear in Brighton District Court for a probable cause hearing on two counts of rape related to an incident with a female student in late February.
President Robert A. Brown responded to the two cases by appointing a special 16-member Task Force on Men’s Ice Hockey in early March to assess the culture and climate of the hockey team and to recommend ways to ensure they are consistent with the values and mission of the University. He asked that the task force report be submitted by this summer so that necessary changes can be made early in the fall semester.
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