Articles for Youth Center

Judge moves to slash $38 million verdict in New Hampshire youth center abuse case
1 month, 1 week ago

Judge moves to slash $38 million verdict in New Hampshire youth center abuse case

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — The judge who oversaw a landmark civil trial over abuse at New Hampshire’s youth detention center has issued a preliminary order slashing the $38 million verdict against the state to $475,000. Rockingham County Superior Court Judge Andrew Schulman previously said reducing the amount awarded to plaintiff David Meehan by nearly 99% would be an “unconscionable miscarriage of …

Trial Abuse Verdict New Hampshire State Jurors Meehan
Mistrial declared after jury deadlocks in rape case of former New Hampshire youth center worker
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Mistrial declared after jury deadlocks in rape case of former New Hampshire youth center worker

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — The first criminal case linked to New Hampshire’s sprawling child abuse scandal ended in a mistrial Tuesday after a jury deadlocked on charges against a former youth detention facility staffer accused of raping a teenage girl in 2001. He declared a mistrial after receiving a note from the jury stating: “After additional time with thoughtful deliberation, we …

Trial State Maunsell Malavet Youth Center
Judge won’t reconvene jury after disputed verdict in New Hampshire youth center abuse case
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Judge won’t reconvene jury after disputed verdict in New Hampshire youth center abuse case

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — The judge who oversaw a landmark trial over abuse at New Hampshire’s youth detention center won’t reconvene the jury but says he will consider other options to address the disputed $38 million verdict. But the attorney general’s office is seeking to reduce the award under a state law that allows claimants against the state to recover a …

Trial Abuse Verdict New Hampshire State Jury Meehan
Second juror in New Hampshire youth center abuse trial explains verdict, says state misinterpreted
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Second juror in New Hampshire youth center abuse trial explains verdict, says state misinterpreted

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — One of the jurors who awarded a New Hampshire man $38 million in a landmark lawsuit over abuse at the state’s youth detention center says the state is misinterpreting the verdict by capping the payment at $475,000. When asked on a verdict form how many incidents they found Meehan had proven, they wrote “one.” The completed form …

Abuse Verdict Attorney Attorneys Wrote Juror Meehan
Jury foreperson in New Hampshire youth center abuse trial ‘devastated’ that award could be slashed
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Jury foreperson in New Hampshire youth center abuse trial ‘devastated’ that award could be slashed

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — Attorneys for a New Hampshire man who prevailed in a landmark lawsuit over abuse at a state-run youth detention center are asking for a hearing after the jury foreperson expressed dismay that the $38 million award could be slashed to $475,000. I’m absolutely devastated,” the jury foreperson wrote to attorney Rus Rilee on Friday evening, according to …

Abuse State Attorney Meehan Youth Center Jury Foreperson Rilee
New Hampshire jury finds state liable for abuse at youth detention center and awards victim $38M
7 months, 2 weeks ago

New Hampshire jury finds state liable for abuse at youth detention center and awards victim $38M

Associated Press  

BRENTWOOD, N.H. — A New Hampshire jury awarded $38 million to the man who blew the lid off abuse allegations at the state’s youth detention center Friday, finding in a landmark case that the state’s negligence allowed him to be beaten, raped and held in solitary confinement as a teen. David Meehan’s attorney said his client was “overwhelmed and overjoyed” …

Abuse New Hampshire Jury Attorney Million David Meehan
Testimony ends in a trial over New Hampshire’s accountability for youth center abuse
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Testimony ends in a trial over New Hampshire’s accountability for youth center abuse

Associated Press  

BRENTWOOD, N.H. — Jurors who will decide whether to hold New Hampshire accountable for abuse at its youth detention center heard from the final witness in a landmark trial Wednesday: a psychiatrist who said the plaintiff has bipolar disorder, not post-traumatic stress disorder. “Without being able to see the picture with the bipolar disorder properly treated, it’s just speculative as …

Abuse Symptoms State Pope Ptsd Bipolar Disorder Meehan
A former youth detention center resident testifies about ‘hit squad’ attack
8 months ago

A former youth detention center resident testifies about ‘hit squad’ attack

Associated Press  

BRENTWOOD, N.H. — A former resident of New Hampshire’s youth detention center testified Tuesday that his house leader and another staffer restrained him in a stairwell while two other workers sexually assaulted him. “My body just went blank.” Gilpatrick, 40, was the first former resident to testify at the first civil trial seeking to hold the state accountable for alleged …

State Resident Meehan Youth Center Gilpatrick Edmark
New Hampshire AG’s office to play both offense and defense in youth center abuse trials
9 months, 1 week ago

New Hampshire AG’s office to play both offense and defense in youth center abuse trials

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — Lawyers defending New Hampshire’s state-run youth detention center against allegations of horrific abuse will be allowed to undermine an accuser’s credibility when the first of more than 1,000 lawsuits goes to trial next month, even as a separate team of state lawyers relies on his account to prosecute former workers. With both Meehan’s civil case and the …

Abuse Civil Criminal White State Attorney David
Arrested youth detention center worker was fired, rehired
3 years, 7 months ago

Arrested youth detention center worker was fired, rehired

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — A former worker at a New Hampshire youth detention center recently charged with holding down a teenage boy during a rape was fired years before that, over allegations of physical and psychological abuse, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. Asbury was working there in July 1994 when he and two other supervisors were fired …

Youth Abuse State Center Manchester Concord Lutz
Arrested NH youth center workers described as ‘hit squad’
3 years, 7 months ago

Arrested NH youth center workers described as ‘hit squad’

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — Four former youth detention center workers charged in connection with the rape of a teenage boy were known as the “hit squad” and “muscle” of their dormitory, a New Hampshire state trooper testified Friday. “The next thing he knew, he was being carried by the four men up a set of stairs,” Trooper Joshua Beauchemin said at …

Men Lapointe Searles Probable Cause Youth Center Hit Squad Center Workers
Sex abuse charges expand to 2nd New Hampshire youth center
3 years, 8 months ago

Sex abuse charges expand to 2nd New Hampshire youth center

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — Four former youth detention center workers charged with sexual assault made initial court appearances in New Hampshire on Thursday, including a man accused of abusing a girl multiple times in a candy storage closet at a second state-run facility. The state has made 11 arrests this month in connection with a broad investigation into physical and sexual …

Sexual Assault Sex Men Assault Sexual Manchester Sullivan
4 more ex-youth center workers charged in New Hampshire
3 years, 8 months ago

4 more ex-youth center workers charged in New Hampshire

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire state police arrested another four men Wednesday in connection with a broad criminal investigation into physical and sexual abuse at a state-run youth detention center, bringing the total to 11. Jonathan Brand, Victor Malavet, Trevor Middleton and Stanley Watson together have been charged with 14 counts of sexual assault involving five victims between 1997 and …

Sexual Assault Sexual Youth Center
7th man arrested in sex abuse case at youth detention center
3 years, 8 months ago

7th man arrested in sex abuse case at youth detention center

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — A former youth detention center worker accused of responding to a bruised and crying teenager’s rape allegations by saying, “Look little fella, that just doesn’t happen,” was arrested Thursday in the latest development in a broad investigation into the New Hampshire facility. “Searles cut him off, responding ‘Look little fella, that just doesn’t happen.’ Then Searles left.” …

Rape Attorney Center Searles
6 charged in NH youth detention center sex abuse probe
3 years, 8 months ago

6 charged in NH youth detention center sex abuse probe

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — Six former staffers at New Hampshire’s state-run youth detention center were arrested Wednesday in connection with the abuse of 11 children over the course of a decade, including one who continued working with children for nearly 20 years after he is accused of holding a boy down while colleagues raped him. The Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly …

Children Abuse Rape Men Charged Massachusetts Youth Center
Hundreds claim decades of abuse by 150 youth center staffers
3 years, 9 months ago

Hundreds claim decades of abuse by 150 youth center staffers

Associated Press  

CONCORD, N.H. — Abuse allegations against New Hampshire’s state-run youth detention center now span six decades, with 150 staffers during that time accused of physically or sexually harming 230 children at a facility the victims’ attorney calls a “magnet for predators.” Rus Rilee sued the state in January 2020 on behalf of three dozen adults who alleged they were abused …

Children Abuse Investigation Office State Attorney Meehan