The New Hampshire Supreme Court has reversed the jury convictions of a Littleton man convicted of sexually assaulting his daughter over several years, and Grafton County prosecutors are now preparing for a new trial while opposing his release on bail.
Matthew Brousseau, 42, was convicted in August 2024 on multiple felony counts including aggravated felonious sexual assault and criminal threatening. Prosecutors said the assaults occurred between November 2015 and February 2022 at Brousseau's South Street residence, where the victim visited every other weekend. The victim told her mother, who contacted the Division for Children, Youth and Families.
The trial featured the victim testifying via video from another room, a procedure the Supreme Court found violated Brousseau's right to confront his accuser face-to-face under the state constitution. The court also suggested the trial court may have erred by not providing records relevant to the defense. The convictions were reversed in March 2026 and the case remanded to Grafton Superior Court, where a new jury trial is scheduled to begin January 19, 2027.
Brousseau remains held on preventive detention at the Grafton County House of Corrections. His attorney, John Bresaw, filed a June 10 motion for a bail hearing, which was heard July 10; the judge has not yet ruled. Bresaw argued that Brousseau has been incarcerated over three years and that current bail exceeds what is necessary to ensure his appearance and community safety.
Assistant Grafton County Attorney Amanda Jacobson opposed bail, arguing the state's evidence remains strong and the law requires denial of bail when proof is evident. She cited the victim's detailed accounts, a seized shotgun, and other corroborating evidence. Jacobson noted that if convicted again, the state will seek an extended term of imprisonment, giving Brousseau a powerful incentive to flee.
Originally reported by Caledonian Record.
Photo: Philippe Murray-Pietsch via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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