A trial is set to begin for a man accused of participating in the abuse of a teenage boy at the Sununu Youth Services Center in New Hampshire during the 1990s. The accused, now 70 years old, is facing charges along with eight other men who worked at the center or an associated facility.
The allegations state that the accused and a colleague restrained the boy in a dormitory while other staff members subjected him to sexual abuse. The victim was approximately 13 years old at the time of the incident. The accused had previously been fired from a related facility over abuse allegations but was later rehired and transferred to the Manchester center.
The accused is facing two counts of being an accomplice to aggravated sexual assault, with a potential maximum prison sentence of 20 years for each count. The trial follows a mistrial in a similar case involving another staff member from the same facility.
The investigation into historic abuse at the youth center has led to over 1,100 former residents filing lawsuits alleging various forms of abuse. One civil case resulted in a $38 million award to a victim, though the state is seeking to reduce the amount.
Testimonies from former residents have shed light on a culture of abuse at the center, with one witness describing a group of staff members known as 'the hit squad' who would physically assault residents. The accused has denied any wrongdoing in the past, but the trial aims to present a different perspective on his actions.
The trial underscores the complex situation of the state defending itself against civil suits while also pursuing criminal charges in connection with the youth center. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and justice in addressing past abuses at such facilities.
