A convicted child molester and former Concord police officer was sentenced to 26 years in state prison Monday for sexually assaulting children at the Pines Community Center in Northfield where he worked as a janitor.
Robert Magoon, 75, of Tilton was convicted in late March of three counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault – all alleging a pattern of abuse – and one count of felonious sexual assault. A jury found him guilty of having inappropriate contact with four girls who participated in the center’s before- and after-school programs between 2012 and 2016.
The March jury trial in Merrimack County Superior Court was the third of its kind for Magoon, who is already serving a 25- to 60-year prison sentence on similar charges. The 26- to 52-year sentence handed down Monday will run concurrent to Magoon’s prior sentence, adding one year to his minimum time served.
Magoon was previously convicted of six counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault for molesting an 8-year-old girl and a disabled woman who uses a wheelchair, also at the Pines.
The 8-year-old girl was the first child to disclose abuse. Prosecutors said previously that the Northfield Police Department’s investigation of that case led authorities to several other child victims, who were assaulted by Magoon while they sat on his lap and colored in the center’s game room.
His appeal in that case is before the New Hampshire Supreme Court, which has yet to schedule oral arguments in the matter.
Magoon, who was previously employed as a police officer in Concord and Franklin, worked as a maintenance supervisor at the Pines for more than 15 years.
Because of his long tenure, everyone knew Magoon, and he had a position of trust within the center, said Assistant Merrimack County Attorney Wayne Coull throughout the criminal case. He reiterated that point Monday in court.
“It was a community center that people relied upon, that people had faith in. The defendant took advantage of his opportunity there to molest these children,” Coull said.
Magoon, who had no prior criminal record, will now serve what amounts to a life sentence.
“We applaud the courage of the young victims and their families for coming forward and testifying,” Coull said after Magoon’s sentencing. “We also appreciate the judge’s words of support at the hearing for the courage and strength these young victims showed at trial.”
Source: http://www.concordmonitor.com/Magoon-sentenced-26-years-sexual-assault-17349978