BOSTON, March 9, 2016— A Boston dance instructor is currently held without bail after his arraignment yesterday on charges he indecently assaulted a child during lessons at the defendant’s North End home last year, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

WILSON ANTHONY (D.O.B. 7/19/96) was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court yesterday on two counts each of aggravated rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child. At the request of Assistant District Attorney Brenna Flynn of the DA’s Child Protection Unit, Judge Eleanor Sinnott ordered Anthony held without bail until his next court appearance.

Flynn told the court that the victim, who is a boy under the age of 14, and his family walked in to the Boston Police Department A-1 station on Sunday to report that the child had been indecently assaulted by Anthony at Anthony’s Canal Street apartment. The alleged assaults occurred on various dates between June and September, when the victim was taking private dance lessons.  The victim disclosed details of the abuse during a forensic interview at the Family Justice Center of Boston on Monday.

“As a parent, it’s always concerning and frightening to hear about cases such as this, where a trusted adult is accused of abusing a child,” Conley said. “I would ask any parent or caregiver to reassure your children that they can talk to you about anything, especially anything that might make them afraid or uncomfortable.  We want kids to know that they will be supported and won’t get in trouble for telling the truth, but not to feel pressured to disclose abuse.  Listen carefully to your children, and notify authorities if anything they say causes concern.”

Anyone who wishes to report the abuse of a child in Suffolk County can call the DA’s Child Protection Unit at 617-619-4300. The Boston Police Crimes Against Children Unit can be reached at 617-343-6183.

Halie Proulx is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Anthony is represented by Edward Harrington.  He returns to court March 16.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.