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Grand jury indicts 10 of 11 former YDC employees on multiple charges stemming from years of alleged sexual abuse at the center

By Dean Shalhoup - Senior Staff Writer | Aug 2, 2021

The John H. Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly known as YDC, in Manchester. (Photo by PRIME ROOFING via InDepthNH)

MANCHESTER – The July grand jury for Hillsborough County Superior Court North has returned dozens of indictments against 10 former Youth Development Center counselors, the result of the ongoing investigation into allegations of rampant sexual assault and prolonged abuse against teenage detainees.

Among the counselors is Jeffrey Buskey, 54, whose address is listed in the indictments as 25 Derlon Lane in Litchfield, and who was indicted on 25 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault.

The indictments accuse Buskey of repeatedly sexually assaulting detainees over a four-year period in the late 1990s, while he was working at Sanders Cottage and East Cottage, according to the charges.

The alleged assaults, which occurred at the two cottages and at an off-campus residence, include an incident in which Buskey allegedly “used a gun to direct (the victim’s) face toward his genitals.”

The YDC has since been renamed the Gov. John H. Sununu Youth Services Center.

Meanwhile, a total of 23 indictments were handed up against Lucien E. Poulette, 65, of 44 Appletree Road in Auburn. Twelve of the indictments are on the charge of aggravated felonious sexual assault, while 11 accuse him of felonious sexual assault, while he was working at the YDC’s Spaulding Cottage.

Also indicted were the following.

* Steven Murphy, 56, of 15 Crestline Circle, Danvers, Massachusetts. Indicted on 14 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault and one count of AFSA — accomplice, for allegedly engaging in a pattern of sexual assaults against one or more detainees while working at East Cottage, and acting as an accomplice on one occasion.

* Gordon T. Searles, 65, of Weare. Three counts, aggravated felonious sexual assault, for allegedly sexually assaulting a person or persons between ages 13-18 while working at King’s Cottage.

* Stanley Watson, 52, of 60 Clement Road, Allenstown. Three counts, aggravated felonious sexual assault, for allegedly engaging in a pattern of sexual assaults involving two different victims while working at Stark House.

* James Woodlock, 66, of 1555 Bodwell Road, Manchester. Six counts, aggravated felonious sexual assault — accomplice, for allegedly acting in concert with one or more other individuals to restrain a victim or victims while working at East Cottage.

* Trevor Middleton, 52, of 5 High St., Belmont. Two counts, felonious sexual assault, for allegedly engaging in sexual assault and a relationship while working at King Cottage.

* Franklin Davis, 80, of 1926 Clement Hill Road, Contoocook. One count, aggravated felonious sexual assault, for allegedly engaging in sexual assault while working at King Cottage.

* Bradley Asbury, 66, of 1056 River Road, Manchester. Two counts, aggravated felonious sexual assault — accomplice, for allegedly acting in concert with others by restraining an alleged victim while working at East Cottage.

* Jonathan T. Brand, 56, of 84 Branch Turnpike, Concord. Two counts, felonious sexual assault, for allegedly coercing a detainee to engage in sexual acts while he was working at H-Unit.

All the men have reportedly been released on bail as their cases move forward in court.

Meanwhile, the 11th suspect arrested in April –Victor Malavet, 58, of Gilford — faces seven counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault in Merrimack County Superior Court, as the alleged sexual assaults occurred at the state’s Youth Detention Services Unit in Concord.

Malavet is accused of sexually assaulting a female detainee in various locations at the facility between June and November 2001, according to the reports.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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