A Hillsborough County jury found a former Sununu Youth Services Center worker not guilty of two counts of felonious sexual assault after a trial that lasted three days.
Jonathan Brand, 60, of Concord, is set to return to Hillsborough County Superior Court in Manchester for another trial involving alleged abuse that happened at the youth detention center in the 2000s.
“My client and I are very pleased that the jury made the right decision, and we thank them for their hard work in this case,” Brand’s lawyer John Newman said in a statement.
The Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case. Brand is one of eight men charged with alleged abuse while working at youth detention centers in Concord and Manchester.
“Although this is not the result we had hoped for, we respect the jury’s decision and thank our trial team for their efforts. We will continue to do all we can to pursue justice in these cases,” the office said in a statement.
The trial involved a tour of the now-closed H-Unit of the center.
During opening statements, prosecutor Nicholas Chong Yen said Brand used his power and authority as a youth counselor to have the alleged victim perform a sex act on him.
Newman said the case is about an “opportunistic man who sees an easy payday and cashes in.” He said the claimant got money from the state’s YDC settlement fund by falsely accusing Brand.
“The state is not going to get a conviction here because Jonathan Brand did not commit these crimes,” Newman said.
Brand faces another trial that starts with jury selection set for Nov. 3.
The second trial involves another indictment involving a different alleged victim. Brand is accused of fondling an inmate “for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification.”