Lawsuit Alleges Founder of Special Olympics Maine Groomed and Abused Boy for Decades

A new lawsuit has emerged, accusing the founder of Special Olympics Maine, Melvin "Mickey" Boutilier, of grooming and sexually abusing 65-year-old Mark Frank for two decades, beginning when Frank was nine years old. The plaintiff, who was not a Special Olympics athlete, asserts that the organization knew about Boutilier's history of abuse and should have intervened.

The lawsuit filed by Frank alleges that Boutilier groomed him for sexual abuse over the span of two decades, during which Boutilier encouraged the victim to accompany him on business trips and provided him with employment, while also threatening him to keep silent about the abuse. This has prompted a joint statement from Special Olympics International and Special Olympics Maine, expressing shock and sadness at the claims and emphasizing the severity of the allegations. They have also stated that they are taking the claims seriously and are currently investigating the matter.

Legal Proceedings

Mark Frank, now 65 years old, from Augusta, Maine, was allowed to bring the lawsuit after the Maine Legislature loosened the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits for childhood sexual abuse. This legal change has led to the filing of numerous new lawsuits against various organizations. The lawsuit states that Frank met Boutilier in 1967, at the age of 9, when Boutilier coached a basketball team in Gorham, Maine. The abuse is said to have started at the age of 11, continuing even after the formal incorporation of Special Olympics Maine in 1973.

Facing debilitating emotional injury and permanent psychological damage, Frank is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit. Attorney Michael Bigos, representing Frank, has emphasized that organizations involving children, particularly those with vulnerabilities, were aware of the risk of sexual abuse perpetrators during that era. Bigos has encouraged other potential victims to come forward, despite being unaware of any other victims at this time.

Background of Melvin "Mickey" Boutilier

Melvin "Mickey" Boutilier was an Army veteran who returned to teach in Maine and New Hampshire after serving in Korea. He was known for his involvement with Camp Waban, a day camp for children with intellectual disabilities, and his career as a special education teacher. Boutilier's impact extended to his role in starting the first Special Olympics Maine, following his experience at the inaugural Special Olympics founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver.