Dad runs "fight club" for teens out of home (Newbury, Massachusetts)

Dad JAMES T. DEXTER has been accused of running a "fight club" for teenage boys out of his home after friends of his 15-year-old son showed up at school with visible injuries, including a fractured foot. He is charged with reckless endangerment of a child.

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_209003854.html

Published: July 28, 2009 05:15 am

Police: Father allowed teenage boys to brawl at home
'Fight club' organizer pleads 'sufficient facts'

By Katie CurleyStaff writer

NEWBURY — A man responsible for sanctioning an organized "fight club" for teenagers in his home was in Newburyport District Court yesterday facing charges of child endangerment.

James T. Dexter, 37, of 30 Central St., Byfield, is facing four counts of reckless endangerment of a child. The case was continued without a finding for two years.

A continued without a finding plea means Dexter pleaded that there were "sufficient facts to be found guilty." If he obeys the conditions on the sentence, the charges will be dismissed, though they will still appear on his record.

As part of the conditions, Dexter, who has a 15-year-old son, must attend parenting classes, stay away from fighting and allow no children under 18 into his home who are not related to him.

There must also be no involvement or formal action taken by the Department of Children and Families over the two-year probationary period. Dexter was fined $90 for the Victim-Witness Fund as well.

According to Detective Aaron Wojtkowski's report, Newbury police received a call in March from Triton Regional High School Principal Kevin McLaughlin saying students were showing up at school with visible injuries.

Included in court documents were pictures of minors with severe black eyes, a bruised ear, facial lacerations and a black-and-blue foot.

"He was hearing that a fight club or organized fighting event was being held at Dexter's home," the police report stated. "Several students had come to school with visible injuries and were talking about the event. McLaughlin identified several of the students he knew to be involved."

According to police, Dexter had provided a 12-by-12-foot room for his 15-year-old son and his friends to use for fighting. He supervised each of at least four fights police know about, according to the report.

While, according to Dexter, only four to five kids were invited to the fight club, 15 to 20 had shown up to the fight.

"There were black eyes, bruises and an apparent broken foot," the report stated.

A court document provided from Seacoast Orthopedics does confirm one of the students suffered a fractured foot.

"One witness stated there were five matches supervised by James Dexter," the police report states. "He stated they were using 4-ounce gloves. He went on to say as a result of the fight he had participated in, he sustained an injury to the foot."

The gloves, consistent with what professional fighters wear, are leather and designed to provide cushion over the knuckles in order to protect from impact. They are finger-less, protecting only the area of the hands that bear the brunt of impact.

When police questioned Dexter after a lengthy investigation, Dexter did say he allowed fighting to occur at his home.

"(Dexter) stated he wanted to be there to intervene in the event the fighting got out of hand," the police report said. "He stated that the boys were going to do it anyway, so he allowed the fighting to take place at his home."

It is unclear whether the boy's mother knew about the fight club.

When police searched the home, they found a sectioned-off area for fighting, a heavy punching bag affixed to the ceiling and black UFC-style fighting gloves.

Police believe at least four fights occurred at the home, and four injuries are documented to have been sustained as a result.

The Department of Children and Families is monitoring the situation.