Man accused of sexual assault at St. Paul’s School seeks to restrict evidence

A Virginia man accused of sexually assaulting a boy at St. Paul’s School decades ago is arguing that county prosecutors should be prohibited from introducing certain evidence to jurors at his January trial.

That evidence includes allegations of sexual abuse by Benjamin Baker against a second victim, as well as any testimony concerning an apology Baker made to that child. Defense attorneys are also asking a judge to exclude all evidence of sexual misconduct by Baker that did not result in criminal charges or resulted in charges that have since been dismissed.

Baker, 64, of Falls Church, Va., is scheduled to stand trial next month on four counts of felonious sexual assault for abuse dating back to the 1970s at the Concord prep school. He also faces an additional count of felonious sexual assault and one count of aggravated felonious sexual assault for alleged conduct involving a second victim. However, evidence to support the latter two charges will be heard by a separate jury at a later date.

Man accused of sexual assault at St. Paul’s School seeks to restrict evidence

St. Paul's School Staff Accused of Decades of Sexual Abuse

Over several decades, former faculty and staff at a prep school are accused of singling out students, plying them with alcohol and then attempting to kiss, fondle and commit other acts of sexual misconduct with them, according to a report released by the school late Wednesday.

The allegations are part of an ongoing investigation by St. Paul’s School into its history of sexual abuse, and the focus of an investigation by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.

In May, St. Paul’s first reported detailed allegations against a dozen men and one woman who worked at the school between 1947 and 1999. An addendum released late Wednesday includes details from unnamed former students against five additional staff members, with allegations of abuse that happened as late as 2009.
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The school has in the past been accused of failing to investigate the allegations — including in 2000 when a group of alumni from the class of 1975 provided the school with a list of 22 faculty and staff members accused of misconduct.

St. Paul's School Staff Accused of Decades of Sexual Abuse