Boston School Security Official Charged with Rape on Martha’s Vineyard

A security officer from a prestigious Boston school has been accused of raping a visitor from Ireland. Police found her unclothed and in distress outside the Massachusetts State Police barracks on Martha’s Vineyard. During his arraignment, prosecutors revealed that Edward Brown, 27, had visited a state trooper friend at the barracks. Brown pleaded not guilty to the alleged attack on August 15.

According to the prosecution, Brown encountered the victim at The Ritz, a popular bar in Oak Bluffs, an upscale community on the island. Police received two emergency calls around 1 a.m. and discovered the woman in shock. She claimed a man had approached her at the bar before she lost consciousness.

Assistant District Attorney Courtney Scalice recounted the incident in court. The victim reported following by a Black man wearing a white hat. She awoke to find herself face down and unclothed. She alleged her assailant restrained her while she cried out for help. When she requested water, he left, allowing her to escape the building. She fled down two flights of stairs and onto the road, where someone eventually aided her.

Oak Bluffs police noted bruises on her legs and a red mark on her neck, according to Scalice. Brown, a guest at the barracks, was identified through a bouncer at The Ritz. The bouncer didn’t know his name but recognized him as a friend of state troopers. Police traced the suspect to trooper Ryan Costello, who identified Brown from a photograph sent on August 29, two weeks post-incident.

On September 11, Costello’s lawyer provided screenshots of texts between Brown and Costello. Prior to providing these messages, law enforcement had no record of them. Brown’s narrative shifted; he first denied bringing a female to the barracks, later claimed she left on her own, and finally said she stayed in an Uber. A text showed Brown asking Costello, “I’m at the barracks with this chick, is that okay?” Costello responded with a simple “okay.”

The Uber driver corroborated the victim’s story, confirming he transported a Black man matching Brown’s description and a seemingly intoxicated young White woman to the barracks. Records list Brown as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and 260 pounds. Boston police reports indicate prior harassment allegations from two ex-girlfriends earlier this year.

Brown was arrested at Boston Latin Academy, where he worked, with suspected cocaine in his wallet. The arrest followed joint efforts with Boston’s anti-corruption division. Oak Bluffs Police Chief Jonathan Searle clarified the Massachusetts State Police’s lack of involvement in their investigation. He stated that lawful search warrants led the investigation, including those executed at the barracks where the alleged assault occurred.

Prosecutors reported that during a search, neither the victim’s clothing nor phone was found. Massachusetts State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble expressed concern over the allegations, stating that they are cooperating with the investigation and reviewing visitor policies. As a result of the case, the department forbids guests at police housing in Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Brown was released after posting $10,000 bail following an October 13 arraignment. Prosecutors had requested a $50,000 bail. The judge forbade Brown to contact the victim or any witnesses. He is scheduled for another court appearance on December 11.

During the arraignment, Brown attempted to speak, but his attorney advised against it. “Mr. Brown has entered a plea of not guilty and denies the allegations,” his lawyer, Anthony Ellison, told Fox News Digital. “He trusts the legal process and looks forward to presenting his case. A vigorous defense will be mounted, as there are always two sides to every story.”

If found guilty, Brown could face up to 20 years in prison and would be required to register as a sex offender.