Nashua Teen Arrested On Child Sexual Assault And Witness Tampering Charges

NASHUA, NH — A teen from Nashua was arrested on charges Wednesday after being accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child across more than five years.

In the middle of March, an officer was sent to Long Avenue after receiving a letter from the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth, and Families about a girl accusing Brandon Gilbert, 19, of no fixed address in Nashua, of raping her in 2017. The letter also referenced other incidents last year where he requested the girl fondle him, an affidavit stated. The girl had revealed the incidents to a therapist, the report said.

The girl was interviewed by the Child Advocacy Center and described the incidents as occurring on at least three or four occasions, including in a bathtub and a pool. There may have been witnesses, too, she told the forensic interviewer. After speaking with a parent, she accused Gilbert of reaching out to her on SnapChat and saying something to the effect, “if you say anything else about it, I will come and kill you,” the affidavit said.

On March 24, police attempted to retrieve the SnapChat message but could not, a report said.

Later, another family member visited with a center’s forensic interviewer. She recalled “something that occurred” about six years ago and believed the incidents “took place on more than one occasion.” The affidavit said the incidents occurred in the home's backyard and upstairs, according to the family member.

Detectives interviewed Gilbert on Tuesday, and he claimed the victim “routinely walked in on him” while he was changing and had seen him naked before, the report said. He also told detectives the victim had “grabbed his penis” while he was changing once. But as the interview went along, detectives accused him of admitting to sexually assaulting and fondling the victim in the pool, an affidavit said.

An arrest warrant was issued against him and Gilbert was charged with aggravated felonious sexual assault and tampering with witnesses and informants charges, both felonies.

After being arrested, Gilbert was questioned again, and said he did not believe he had threatened the girl on SnapChat since he “routinely messaged (her),” the report said.

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

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