New Hampshire settles youth center abuse case for $10 million

The New Hampshire attorney general's office has agreed to a $10 million settlement in the case of Michael Gilpatrick, who alleged he was gang-raped by staff members at the state’s youth detention center in the 1990s. This settlement comes as his lawsuit against the state would have been one of the first of over 1,300 similar claims to go to trial, but both parties opted for an out-of-court resolution. Notably, this payout is quadruple the maximum amount accessible to abuse victims through the state’s settlement fund.

Gilpatrick, now 41, detailed his traumatic experiences at the Youth Development Center, where he claimed to be subjected to sexual and physical abuse by multiple staffers during his stay starting at age 14. He described the facility as a place where vulnerability was exploited, leaving him trapped in fear and isolation. Gilpatrick recounted specific incidents, including one where he was assaulted in a stairwell by multiple staff members, which has led to criminal charges against four former employees, two of whom have already faced trial.

One of those convicted, Brad Asbury, received a 20 to 40-year sentence for his role in the assaults. However, another accused, Stephen Murphy, has not been convicted, as jurors deadlocked in his trial, leading to a mistrial. Gilpatrick testified in these cases, describing the collective violence and abuse he and others experienced at the hands of these staff members.

The settlement provides Gilpatrick with an alternative to what would likely have been an emotionally taxing court proceeding, given his past experiences. Despite his struggles, he noted an important turning point in accepting that the abuse was not his fault, which motivated him to pursue justice through legal action. Over the years, the attorney general's office has arrested eleven former youth counselors as investigations into the facility's operations intensified since 2019.

The youth center, named after former Governor John H. Sununu, has faced significant scrutiny and is slated for closure. The facility, which once accommodated over 100 children, now serves fewer than a dozen and will be replaced with a smaller institution designed to better address the needs of youth accused or convicted of serious violent crimes.