The first criminal trial stemming from a lengthy investigation into alleged abuse at a New Hampshire youth detention center will begin on Monday. Victor Malavet, a 62-year-old man from Gilford, is one of nine former state employees facing charges related to the attorney general’s broader inquiry into the Sununu Youth Services Center. Malavet worked at the Youth Detention Services Unit in Concord, which housed children awaiting court decisions, unlike the others who worked at the Youth Development Center in Manchester.
Malavet faces 12 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl held at the Concord facility in 2001. Prosecutors claim that Malavet treated the girl favorably compared to other residents, providing her with special privileges. Allegedly, he coerced her into sexual acts while in a storage room selecting candy for other residents. After staff members raised concerns about their relationship, Malavet was transferred to Manchester.
Malavet’s defense attorney, Maya Dominguez, stated that her client denies the charges and is prepared to challenge them in court. The accuser had been moved to the Concord unit from Manchester after an incident where she assaulted a staff member and escaped. Although defense lawyers intended to bring up this incident during the trial to explain Malavet’s behavior, the judge denied their request.
The court did approve the introduction of the accuser’s criminal convictions, including a 10-year prison sentence for assaulting a staff member in Manchester. The woman, now 39, revealed in a 2021 interview that fear prevented her from reporting the abuse as a teenager. She expressed hope to return to school to complete a degree in finance, emphasizing resilience and optimism after enduring challenging experiences.
Over 1,100 former residents are suing the state for abuse spanning six decades at the youth facilities. In a previous trial, David Meehan was awarded $38 million for abuse he suffered at the Youth Development Center in the 1990s, though the verdict is still contested. These trials underscore the unique situation of the state attorney general’s office prosecuting alleged offenders while concurrently defending the state against civil claims. The focus is on offering a platform for former residents’ testimonies in criminal proceedings, contrasting with defense tactics used in civil cases to discredit accusers.
To protect the victim’s privacy, The Associated Press refrains from naming individuals who claim to be victims of sexual abuse unless they voluntarily disclose their experiences publicly.