A mistrial was declared in the first criminal case related to New Hampshire's child abuse scandal, as the jury could not reach a unanimous decision. The case involved a former youth detention facility staffer, Victor Malavet, accused of raping a teenage girl in 2001.
Malavet, 62, is one of nine men charged in the investigation into abuse allegations at the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester. The jury deadlocked on the 12 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault after 11 hours of deliberation over three days.
The teenage girl, Natasha Maunsell, testified during the four-day trial that Malavet repeatedly raped her while she was held at the facility in 2001 and 2002. Malavet denied the allegations, stating that his relationship with the girl was purely professional.
Defense attorneys argued that Maunsell fabricated the allegations to benefit financially from a lawsuit. Maunsell is one of over 1,100 former residents who have filed suits alleging abuse and has received loans in advance of a settlement.
Following the mistrial, a status conference will be held before the trial is rescheduled. Attorney General John Formella expressed disappointment but reiterated the office's commitment to prosecuting abusers.
In a separate civil case, David Meehan was awarded $38 million for abuse he suffered at the Youth Development Center in the 1990s. The verdict is currently under dispute.
The trials shed light on the unique situation of the state attorney general's office prosecuting offenders while also defending the state. Maunsell's testimony played a crucial role in the criminal case, despite her initial denials of being sexually assaulted due to fear of retaliation and disbelief.
