Caregiver accused in sex assault faces April trial

John C. Riley (Courtesy photo)

BRENTWOOD, N.H. - The Milton man accused of sexually assaulting a developmentally disabled man under his care in November 2012 faces a jury trial next month in Rockingham Superior Court.

John C. Riley, 42, of 1147 White Mountain Highway No. 3, stands charged with aggravated felonious sexual assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment and indecent exposure in connection with the case.

Riley worked for Living Innovations, the community-based support group for the developmentally challenged at the time of the alleged sexual assault.

He waived his probable cause hearing in Rockingham District Court in January 2013 and has been out on $30,000 cash bail since.

Defense lawyer Lincoln Soldati, who from 1983-2000 served as Strafford County Attorney, will represent Riley at his upcoming jury trial, which begins April 7.

Meanwhile, the Union Leader of Manchester reported on Tuesday that a 24-year-old Lee man has filed a civil lawsuit against the same residential care corporation and Community Partners of Strafford County Foundation, claiming that workers failed to protect him against being sexually abused by the same caregiver.

The civil lawsuit was filed by the 24-year-old's mother, who serves as his legal guardian.

The incident that spawned the criminal case allegedly occurred on Nov. 2 in a Portsmouth parking lot after Riley had attended a Halloween party at the Portsmouth offices of Living Innovations.

Police reports state that Riley who had been en route to driving the man home helped undress the 35-year-old male who had complained of being hot in his costume, and then performed a sex act on him against his will. The Portsmouth Herald reported that police said the victim had the mental capacity of an 8-year-old.

Detective Tim Cashman of the Portsmouth Police Dept. told The Lebanon Voice in January 2012 that Riley also shared his Milton apartment with a different developmentally challenged man, but that  there was nothing in the police investigation that would suggest any abuse occurred at the White Mountain Highway address.

Cashman also said Riley worked at a Milton-area business, but that there was no criminal activity associated with his employment there, either. He did not name the business.

Cashman added that the developmentally challenged man with whom Riley lived had been placed with family members after the arrest.

Exactly three weeks prior to the alleged assault in Portsmouth Riley was honored by Living Innovations as an Employee of the Year for his work with the developmentally disadvantaged and was awarded a $500 cash bonus and plaque.