NH, Mass. Men Arrested On Rape Charges In New Hampshire YDC Case

CONCORD, NH — An investigation into child abuse and sexual assault allegations at the New Hampshire Youth Development Center by the attorney general's office has led to charges against six men on Wednesday.

The Youth Development Center, now called the John H. Sununu Youth Services Center, is for teenagers who have been found to be juvenile delinquents or have been sentenced to serve time in a secure institutional setting.

Charges were brought against four New Hampshire men: Bradley Asbury, 66, pictured upper left, of Dunbarton, who was charged with aggravated felonious sexual assault-accomplice connected to an allegation from between 1997 and 1998 raised by a former resident; Frank Davis, upper right, 79, of Contoocook, who faces five counts of sexual assault and one aggravated felonious sexual assault charge after four residents made claims about incidents between 1996 and 1997; Lucien Poulette, 65, lower center, of Auburn was arrested on 11 aggravated felonious sexual assault charges, 12 felonious sexual assault charges, and 10 sexual assault counts. Seven former residents made accusations against him between 1994 and 2005; and James Woodlock, lower right, 56, of Manchester, who faces three aggravated felonious sexual assault-accomplice charges involving two former residents and incidents between 1997 and 1999.

Two Massachusetts men were also charged: Jeffrey Buskey, 54, upper center, of Quincy, MA, was arrested by Mass. State Police on Wednesday on five counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault after incidents that occurred between 1996 and 1999 involving four former residents; and Stephen Murphy, 51, lower left, of Danvers, MA, who was also arrested by state police in the Bay State on five counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault after three former YDC resident leveled accusations against him between 1997 and 1999.

"The investigation into child abuse allegations occurring at YDC remains active and ongoing," Kate Giaquinto, the director of communications for the attorney general's office said. "The aforementioned arrests do not represent the culmination of the investigation but are merely a step forward in this comprehensive and multi-faceted investigation."

Charges against Buskey and Murphy, about 56, were dropped last year but the AG's office noted that they could be refiled. The investigation was broadened at the same time the charges between the two were dropped. In 2016, Kirstie Bean of Concord, a sociologist at the center, was arrested and later, indicted on sexual assault, gun, child endangerment, and other charges. She pleaded down to sexual assault and witness tampering charges.

Giaquinto said anyone who was physically or sexually assaulted or abused at the YDC should contact a local crisis center. Advocates are available in the state to provide free and confidential support to anyone impacted by sexual violence, she said.

To speak with an advocate, call the statewide domestic violence hotline at 1-866- 644-3574 or the statewide sexual assault hotline at 1-800-277-5570 or find the crisis center nearest listed here.

Gov. Chris Sununu, in a statement, said the arrests showed that his administration was committed to holding the accused accountable for their actions.

"When my administration launched this investigation two years ago, we pledged to leave no stone unturned to ensure justice was served," he said. "This is not over and we will continue to investigate these horrific allegations."

A lawsuit is also working its way through superior court with accusations dating back more than three decades by dozens of people who claim to have been abused and assaulted at the center.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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