Nursing Assistant Accused of Assaulting Child at Hospital Faces Felony Charges in Separate Case1/13/2026
The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence works with crisis-affected families. Coalition coordinator Meg Chant said it's never too early to talk to children about speaking up.
"For the parents, it's really about listening to and believing children if they're speaking up and telling them that there's an issue," Chant said. "And then seeking help. That's what matters the most." Chant said the family in this case took the right approach, but she noted that police aren't the only resource for those who don't know where to turn. "If a parent is trying to work through the situation, and maybe they don't know what's going on yet and they're just trying to understand, 'Why is my child acting in this way that's unusual? There's a behavioral change.' Certainly, call the crisis center, and they can talk through that with them." WMUR January 9, 2026 Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs, New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, released this statement following the sentencing: “David Meehan’s courage in coming forward has changed the trajectory of this case and exposed a history of horrific abuse that never should have happened. Today is the result of a survivor who refused to be silenced and a legal system finally beginning to reckon with its past. We stand with David and with every survivor whose childhood was stolen at YDC. Justice must continue, and we will not stop advocating until every survivor is heard, believed, and supported.”
Seacoast Online December 12, 2025 Amanda Grady Sexton, public affairs director for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, reminded parents that they are not alone. Confidential services are available around-the-clock for those who may need help or guidance, she said.
“The allegations in this case are heartbreaking and remind us that even in places dedicated to healing, children can be vulnerable,” Grady Sexton said. “Ensuring strong safeguards, clear reporting pathways, and immediate support for families is vital.” Those impacted by domestic and sexual violence or stalking can access free and confidential support services by calling the 24/7 statewide helpline at 866-644-3574. Boston Globe December 9, 2025 “Accountability for buyers is an important part of reducing the demand that drives human trafficking,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, the director of public affairs for the New Hampshire Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. “When those who purchase sex face consequences, traffickers have fewer opportunities to exploit vulnerable people.”
“This arrest also serves as a reminder that best practice is to focus enforcement on buyers and traffickers,” Grady Sexton said. “The Coalition remains committed to promoting responses that recognize exploited individuals as victims and ensure they receive safety, dignity, and meaningful support.” Concord Monitor December 8, 2025 The New Hampshire Coalition of Domestic and Sexual Violence says many incidents like these end up unreported. For that reason, they encourage immediate action if anyone becomes aware of them, in order to better protect affected children.
"It's such a strong reminder of the importance of safeguards — and really strong safeguards — in all child-serving institutions, and the importance of accountability when boundaries are violated," said program director Meg Chant with the Coalition. She adds that families would do well to stay aware of what their children need, especially in a situation under duress, as the victim experienced. "Parents know their child in that situation, and so it's really (about) being able to be there and be that advocate. They know if their child is saying something's wrong," Chant said. The Coalition said crisis center advocates are available 24/7 statewide for support services to victims and survivors. WMUR December 9, 2025 Pamela Keilig, public policy specialist at the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said that requiring massage businesses to be licensed is a key preventative strategy.
Not only does licensing help stop illegal operations from taking root in the state, but it also protects massage therapists who might be forced to work in such establishments, she said. “We really view this as a really important prevention strategy to ensure that traffickers don’t see our state as a safe haven to exploit people and put our communities at risk,” said Keilig. “One of the benefits of having these establishment licenses is ensuring that there are some standard practices being put in place and a structure to hopefully mitigate this Whack-a-Mole phenomenon that we are seeing.” Concord Monitor November 29, 2025 AG report on Berlin murder calls for expanding domestic violence prevention tool statewide10/20/2025
One of the report's major recommendations focuses on the Lethality Assessment Program or LAP — a 13-question checklist police officers use when responding to domestic violence calls.
Advocates said the tool, developed nearly 20 years ago, has been proven to save lives but is only used intermittently in New Hampshire. "We are hugely supportive of that and appreciative that the attorney general recognizes this as a key safety tool," said Lyn Schollett of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. "It's also important to note that this is an evidence-based tool. Research shows that if an offender rapes the victim, strangles the victim or has firearms, the likelihood they will go on to cause serious bodily injury or even to kill someone increases dramatically." At New Beginnings in Laconia, one of 12 crisis centers in New Hampshire, advocates receive LAP calls directly from law enforcement. Executive Director Shauna Foster said the initial contact often becomes the start of a much longer relationship with survivors. WMUR October 17, 2025 Report identifies system failures in NH domestic violence case that ended in murder-suicide10/17/2025
"Reviews like this are critical to evaluate what we are doing well and what can be improved,” said Lyn Schollett of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence.
Gleason was out of jail on just $5,000 bail at the time of the shooting, accused of sexually assaulting Fuentes a couple of months earlier. Just two days prior to the shooting, Berlin Police were notified about threatening comments that Gleason had made to a friend about killing Fuentes. But according to the Attorney General’s report, the department dropped the ball following up on a welfare check. One recommendation from the report is more domestic violence training for officers. “We support more training for any professional that is responding to victims, and it is important that the training include the evidence-based research that is out there,” Schollett said. WCAX October 16, 2025 “The Coalition will be working with the legislature during the 2026 Legislative Session to mandate the use of lethality assessments by law enforcement and to establish ways for the courts to reduce the risk of homicides in domestic violence cases,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
“Only when police, prosecutors and the courts have full information about an offender’s history and access to evidenced-based lethality assessment tools, can they make informed decisions that best prioritize the safety of victims and the public,” she said. “The Coalition will continue working closely with survivors, surviving family members and state partners including the legislature to ensure that lasting change is made. Every survivor in New Hampshire deserves to be believed, supported, and protected when they reach out for help.” InDepth October 14, 2025 “It’s unfortunate that it takes a tragedy like this for us to step back and access how our systems respond but there is deep value in it,” said the Coalition’s Executive Director Lyn Schollett.
“The biggest takeaway from this report is that it shows that when police, prosecutors, and judges have two things: the offender’s full criminal history and access to evidence-based risk assessments than they can make the decision that prioritize community safety.” WMUR October 14, 2025 |
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The 12 member programs of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence provide services to all victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, stalking, and child abuse.
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Funding for this website was provided by The Corporate Fund.
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
PO Box 353, Concord, NH 03302-0353
(603) 224-8893
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
PO Box 353, Concord, NH 03302-0353
(603) 224-8893
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