Former youth detention center counselor Jeffrey Buskey goes on trial Monday in Manchester, New Hampshire, facing 21 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault. According to The Associated Press, the 60-year-old Litchfield resident is accused of abusing four boys at the Youth Development Center in the late 1990s, marking the first criminal trial stemming from a youth detention abuse scandal.
Charges and Historic Context
The criminal case against Buskey traces back to allegations made by David Meehan, who arrived at the Manchester facility in 1995 at age 14. Meehan’s account triggered the first of more than 1,100 civil lawsuits alleging decades of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the institution, which has since been renamed the Sununu Youth Services Center.
Meehan’s civil claims spurred an unprecedented criminal investigation that resulted in the 2019 arrests of Buskey and another former worker, alongside nine subsequent arrests. During a civil trial that concluded with a $38 million jury award in May 2024—a verdict currently contested as the state seeks a reduction to $475,000—Meehan testified that Buskey transitioned from a trusted father figure who provided snacks and basketball opportunities into an abuser.
Defense Statements and Legal Proceedings
According to court records, Buskey denied the allegations during a police interview, stating that he maintained a great relationship with Meehan and always tried to help him. While struggling to recall his 1990s home address and spelling for his then-fiancée’s last name, Buskey reportedly brought up Meehan unprompted during the questioning.
The upcoming proceedings represent a fraction of the broader legal fallout from the Manchester facility. Other criminal cases tied to the center have yielded mixed outcomes:
- Bradley Asbury, Stanley Watson, and James Woodlock: Convicted of charges related to their tenure at the facility, according to the Associated Press.
- Jonathan Brand and Victor Malavet: Brand was acquitted by jurors, while Malavet’s case ended in a mistrial following a deadlocked jury, per the Associated Press.
- Other Defendants: Charges were dropped against Trevor Middleton; Frank Davis was declared incompetent to stand trial; and Gordon Searles died while awaiting trial, according to the Associated Press. Stephen Murphy faced multiple trials resulting in a mistrial, an acquittal on three charges, and a hung jury on five counts, while Lucien Poulette awaits trial.
Facility Status and Future
The Youth Development Center, historically housing up to 100 children, now typically holds fewer than a dozen youths accused or convicted of the most serious violent crimes, according to the Associated Press. New Hampshire lawmakers have approved closing the facility entirely and replacing it with a smaller building at a new location.
