New Hampshire settles youth center abuse case for $10 million

The New Hampshire attorney general's office has reached a $10 million settlement with Michael Gilpatrick, who alleged he was gang-raped in the 1990s at the state's youth detention center. Gilpatrick's lawsuit against the state was set to go to trial, but both parties agreed to an out-of-court settlement, as confirmed by his lawyers on Saturday. This settlement amount is significantly higher than the typical payouts available through the state's settlement fund for abuse victims.

Gilpatrick, now 41, recounted his traumatic experiences at the Youth Development Center, where he was detained at the age of 14. His lawsuit implicated ten staff members in various forms of abuse, including repeated sexual assaults and physical violence. Gilpatrick described a pervasive culture of fear within the facility, noting, "There was nobody you could go to... you were literally stuck in your own thoughts, in your own fear every single day."

One harrowing incident he described involved staff members who held him down while another assaulted him. This led to criminal charges against four former staffers, with one, Brad Asbury, sentenced to 20 to 40 years for his role in the assaults. The other staff, including Stephen Murphy, has faced ongoing legal challenges, as previous trials have resulted in mistrials or deadlocks.

The settlement also alleviated Gilpatrick from potentially enduring another emotionally charged court proceeding, following his testimony at criminal trials where he expressed anger towards defense attorneys. He revealed that his silence during the abuse stemmed from fear of those in positions of authority who were complicit in the acts.

As investigations progressed, eleven former youth counselors were arrested, highlighting a broader pattern of abuse at the facility. With the youth center—named after former Governor John H. Sununu—now slated for closure, lawmakers aim to replace it with a smaller facility designated for only the most serious offenders.