A sexual assault trial began Monday in Manchester, New Hampshire, for Jeffrey Buskey, a former counselor at the Youth Development Center. Buskey, 60, faces 21 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault related to alleged abuse of four boys in the late 1990s, with the first charges involving David Meehan, who was 14 when he entered the facility.
Meehan filed the first of more than 1,100 lawsuits alleging physical, sexual, or emotional abuse spanning six decades at the center, now called the Sununu Youth Services Center. These allegations led to Buskey's arrest in 2019, initiating a broad criminal investigation that resulted in nine additional arrests and the creation of a settlement fund for victims.
During his civil trial, Meehan testified that Buskey transitioned from a trusted figure to an abuser, recounting near-daily rapes after initially providing comfort and activities. Meehan, who has publicly identified himself as a victim, was awarded $38 million by a jury in May 2024, though the state is contesting the amount.
Buskey, in a police interview transcript, denied abusing Meehan, stating they had a "great relationship" and that he was "always nice to the kid, always trying to help him." He had difficulty recalling personal details from the 1990s but unprompted mentioned Meehan's name.
The Youth Development Center, which once housed over 100 children and now serves fewer than a dozen, is slated for closure. Lawmakers have approved replacing it with a smaller facility to house individuals accused or convicted of the most serious violent crimes.
Several other former employees have faced charges. Bradley Asbury, Stanley Watson, and James Woodlock have been convicted. Trials for Jonathan Brand and Victor Malavet resulted in an acquittal and a mistrial, respectively. Charges were dropped against Trevor Middleton, Frank Davis was declared incompetent to stand trial, and Gordon Searles died awaiting trial. Stephen Murphy has pending charges with one mistrial and another case ending in an acquittal on some charges and a hung jury on others. Lucien Poulette is awaiting trial.