Concord, NH -- New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announces today that the Hillsborough County Grand Jury returned 56 indictments against Jeffrey Buskey, age 52, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, charging him with Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault, between October 26, 1997 and September 30, 1998. In addition, 26 indictments were returned charging Steven Murphy, age 50, of Danvers, Massachusetts, with Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault, between October 26, 1997 and September 30, 1998. These crimes are alleged to have occurred while Mr. Buskey and Mr. Murphy were employed as youth counselors at the Youth Development Center (YDC) in Manchester, New Hampshire. All of the charges against Mr. Buskey and Mr. Murphy involve a victim who was a minor in the custody of the YDC at the time of the offenses.

These indictments were presented to the grand jury by the Hillsborough County Attorney's Office. Based on the scope and complexity of this matter and because it involves alleged criminal conduct at a state agency by state employees, the Attorney General's Office has today assumed the prosecution of these cases. This Office is also launching a comprehensive, multi-faceted investigation of the YDC and the personnel employed at that agency. The investigation will initially focus on a timeframe between 1990 and 2000.

The investigation by this Office will address whether additional juveniles were subjected to physical or sexual violence at the YDC in this timeframe as well as whether there was conduct which constituted endangering the welfare of a child, contrary to RSA 639:3 and violations of RSA ch. 642, the Obstructing Governmental Operations chapter of the criminal code. This Office will also investigate any other crimes as dictated by the evidence.

Anyone who was physically or sexually assaulted or abused at the YDC is encouraged to contact their local crisis center. Crisis center advocates are available across New Hampshire to provide free and confidential support to anyone impacted by sexual violence. Crisis center services are also available to anyone who has experienced or witnessed abuse, or who is looking to find ways to support someone who has. Crisis centers can provide individual support, support groups, assistance reporting abuse, help understanding options and the legal system, court and hospital accompaniment, housing assistance, and referrals for local services including mental health and substance abuse services. To speak with an advocate, please 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 you at https://www.nhcadsv.org/member-programs.html.

In addition, any person with information regarding criminal conduct at the YDC is urged to contact Investigator James Kinney at the Attorney General's Office at (603) 271-1258 or email: james.kinney@doj.nh.gov.

The indictments returned are merely allegations and Mr. Buskey and Mr. Murphy are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.