Next, he was placed at Mount Prospect Academy where the anti-gay abuse and name-calling continued. He came out as gay while at Nashua Children’s Home, making him a target for anti-gay abuse by staff, some of whom referred to him as “the faggot,” according to court documents, as well as by other children who followed the staff’s example. He was subject to frequent violent “takedowns,” in which he was tackled by adults, with his arms twisted high behind his back, pinned to the floor and verbally and physically abused despite being only 11 or 12 years old and in violation of state and federal law. Initially, he was placed at Nashua Children’s Home, where he spent most of his time in isolation, either in his cell or in “the quiet room,” an isolation room used for punishment and compliance enforcement. He was in state custody from 2009 to 2015. Eventually, he began to smoke marijuana, which led to him being deemed a “delinquent” at age 11, a status he retained until he was 17. Depressed, his schoolwork suffered and he began skipping school. John Doe #402, feeling deeply betrayed, came to distrust adults and the state. Based largely on his mother’s lack of support for her son, DCYF closed the investigation as “unfounded.” Unfortunately, to “keep family peace” his mother sided with the abuser. His abuser told him to keep quiet or he’d kill him.Įventually, he disclosed the abuse to a teacher, the state Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) was called and an investigation took place. The abuse progressed to him being raped multiple times a week. In his lawsuit, John Doe #402 says that when he was 7, he was molested by an older family member for about three years. The reality of John Doe #402’s life is that he ended up in the custody of the state because he was trying to get away from the Jolicoeur School after allegedly being sexually abused by an older child. Those facilities, contracted by the state, include the Nashua Children’s Home, Mount Prospect Academy of Plymouth, and Jolicoeur School, a/k/a Gammon Academy in Manchester, operated by Easter Seals. John Doe #402 also is suing facilities where he was placed prior to going to YDC. He said they are being spread apart so as not to overwhelm one court. Vicinanzo said that so far 450 lawsuits have been filed in Merrimack County Superior Court but another 150 to 200 will be heard in Superior Court in Manchester. He had suffered a dislocated shoulder.Īttorney David A. Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly called YDC, and wasn’t taken to Catholic Medical Center for treatment until hours later. Two weeks ago, according to court documents, a handcuffed teen was beaten in his cell at the John H. They contend the abuse was systemic, known to authorities and took place for decades and that it is still happening. The plaintiff, identified only as John Doe #402, although his name and date of birth were filed under seal in Hillsborough County Superior Court Northern District, is among the more than 600 people who allege staffers at state-run and state-contracted facilities physically, mentally and/or physically abused them. MANCHESTER, NH – A gay teen was sexually molested by both a male and female staffer at the Youth Development Center and, when he confided in the juvenile chaplain that he was gay, he was told he was going to hell, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday. Entrance to the former Youth Substance Use Disorder Treatment Center, added to the YDC building in 2018.