Father of Alleged Assailant in Snapchat Sex Assault Case Arraigned

The father of a teen boy charged in connection with the sexual assault of an incapacitated 16-year-old girl that was posted online pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

Matthew Cyckowski, 37, of Saugus, was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty to a charge of misleading police at his arraignment in Salem Superior Court, a day after he was indicted and arrested.

Cyckowski is the father of a 17-year-old boy who's been charged in connection with the Sept. 3 assault that was recorded and posted to mobile messaging app Snapchat.

The elder Cyckowski transferred his son's cellphone number to his own phone and gave that phone to police instead of his son's, which allegedly contained video of the assault, prosecutors said.

His son is charged as a youthful offender with kidnapping, assault to rape and posing a child in a state of nudity. He is one of three teens charged in connection with the assault.

Rashad Deihim, 19, of Saugus pleaded not guilty Monday to charges including assault with intent to rape and indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or older. Deihim's lawyer noted that his client turned himself in and "professes his innocence."

Kailyn Bonia, 18, faces the same charges and pleaded guilty in district court. Her lawyer has refused to comment.

Both have been indicted, moving their cases to Superior Court.

The trio is accused of assaulting the girl and posting video to Snapchat, which keep posts up for only a few seconds.

But a girl who received the messages grabbed some screen shots and told her parents, who went to police.

Police found the alleged victim in the woods partially naked, alone and under the influence of drugs.