The New Hampshire attorney general’s office has reached a $10 million settlement with Michael Gilpatrick, who alleged he was gang-raped at the state’s youth detention center in the 1990s. Gilpatrick’s lawsuit accused 10 staffers of sexual or physical abuse, resulting in criminal charges against four. The settlement is four times the maximum amount available through the state’s settlement fund for abuse victims. Gilpatrick, now 41, spent three years at the Youth Development Center when he was 14. He testified in criminal trials against former staffers, some of whom have been convicted or are awaiting retrial. The settlement spared Gilpatrick from an emotionally challenging court proceeding. The youth center, named after former Gov. John H. Sununu, is set to be replaced with a smaller facility for those accused of serious crimes. Lawmakers have approved the closure of the current facility. Eleven former youth counselors have been arrested since 2019, with some cases resulting in convictions or mistrials. The settlement allows Gilpatrick and other victims to come forward publicly. The case sheds light on the abuse and mistreatment at the center, with Gilpatrick describing the environment as one where he felt fear and was unable to seek help.
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