MANCHESTER, N.H. — The trial against Bradley Asbury, accused in a high-profile abuse case emerging from the troubled past of the Sununu Youth Services Center, is approaching its conclusion. Set to end with closing arguments on Friday, the trial has drawn attention due to the serious allegations stemming from Asbury’s tenure at the facility, known for harrowing claims of misconduct against children.
The case revolves around charges that Asbury was complicit in a grave incident in 1998, where Michael Gilpatrick, then a 14-year-old resident, was allegedly raped. Asbury occupied a key position as the house leader of the East Cottage at the time, a section of the youth center that garnered an infamous reputation under his watch.
Despite Asbury’s pivotal role in the troubling narratives shared by former residents, the jury at Hillsborough Superior Court has been shielded from most of those accounts. Instead, they heard a more benign depiction captured in a recorded interview, where Asbury described himself as lenient and protective towards the youth under his care, even earning the nickname “Mr. Easybury” for his alleged benevolence.
The recording, presented in court by prosecutors, showed Asbury dismissing allegations of misconduct and expressing disbelief over claims of rape under his supervision. However, his past is marred by controversies, including a dismissal in 1994 over allegations of physical and emotional abuse, though he later regained his position after appealing the decision through a Personnel Appeals Board.
The current trial is a critical part of a broader investigation led by a special task force established by then-New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald. This task force indicted 11 men in 2021, though further action since then has been limited despite numerous civil lawsuits alleging widespread abuse, indicating a significant slowdown in proactive investigations.
This slowdown is evident as no new charges have been brought since the initial indictments, even as civil proceedings unveil hundreds of named abusers entangled in roughly 1,000 lawsuits filed by survivors seeking justice. This has raised questions about the state’s dedication to fully addressing the past abuses and supporting the victims.
Furthermore, the state’s position appears conflicted as it simultaneously defends against civil claims related to the same abuses it prosecutes. For example, Michael Gilpatrick, also involved in a substantial civil suit against the state, could see the Attorney General’s Office shifting from supporting his victimization claims in the criminal court to potentially contesting them in civil court next year.
The legal battle has already seen significant rulings, such as in a related trial earlier this year where a jury awarded $38 million to David Meehan for abuses he suffered, a decision the state is now contesting by proposing a capped compensation of $475,000. The final determination on this substantial reduction is pending a review by the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
This closing phase of Asbury’s trial arrives just after a mistrial was declared in September for another YDC staff member, spotlighting ongoing challenges in the justice system’s handling of these distressing cases.
The outcomes of these trials not only bear immense significance for the survivors but also spotlight the systemic issues within state-run facilities and the complexities involved in unraveling years of entrenched abuse and oversight failures.
Disclaimer: This article was automatically written by AI, and the people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Concerns about the content can be addressed by contacting [email protected].