A criminal trial stemming from a five-year investigation into allegations of abuse at New Hampshire’s youth detention center is set to commence. The case involves Victor Malavet, a former state worker at the Youth Detention Services Unit in Concord, who faces 12 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl held there in 2001.
Prosecutors allege that Malavet showed favoritism towards the girl, providing her with special privileges and ultimately coercing her into sexual acts in a candy storage room. Following reports from colleagues, Malavet was transferred to a different facility in Manchester.
Malavet maintains his innocence and plans to contest the charges. His defense team sought to introduce evidence related to the girl's criminal history, including a prior assault conviction, to challenge her credibility.
The victim, now 39, revealed in a recent interview that fear prevented her from reporting the abuse earlier. She expressed a desire to pursue a finance degree and emphasized the importance of finding strength and hope in challenging circumstances.
Notably, over 1,100 former residents are suing the state for alleged abuse spanning several decades. In a separate case, a jury awarded $38 million to David Meehan for abuse suffered at the Youth Development Center in the 1990s, a verdict currently under dispute.
These trials underscore the complex role of the state attorney general’s office, which is simultaneously prosecuting offenders and defending the state against abuse claims. The legal proceedings are expected to involve testimony from former youth center residents, shedding light on long-standing issues within the state's juvenile detention system.
