Sexual Assault Trial To Begin For Former Strafford County New Hampshire Jail Chaplain Ralph Flodin - Provided “Special Therapy” For Female Inmates
May 12th, 2008
DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE — The trial of a former county jail chaplain accused of sexually assaulting a female inmate during counseling sessions is scheduled to begin this morning at Strafford County Superior Court.
Ralph Flodin, 70, of 5 Riverside Drive in Alton, faces nine counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, each alleging he fondled a 24-year-old inmate while providing therapy in ways that were not “professionally recognized as ethical or acceptable.”
He also faces two misdemeanor charges of sexual assault.
The trial is expected to last four days, and its witnesses include staff from the Strafford County House of Corrections and several females who were inmates at the jail when Flodin worked there.
Flodin was hired in July 2006 to fill a new chaplain position responsible for coordinating spiritual programs and conducting counseling.
The alleged assaults began a month later and continued through April 2007, prosecutors claim.
He was fired from his position in May 2007 after the victim, unwilling to attend a group counseling session, revealed his alleged conduct to jail officials.
A Sheriff’s Office investigation began, and the case was presented to a grand jury soon thereafter.
All of Flodin’s charges are Class A felonies, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
