A new lawsuit alleges that Melvin “Mickey” Boutilier, the founder of Special Olympics Maine, sexually abused Mark Frank for two decades, beginning when Frank was just nine years old. Boutilier, who died in 2012, allegedly used his position to groom Frank for abuse, which included encouraging him to accompany him on business trips and providing him with employment. Frank, who is now 65, filed the lawsuit under a loosened statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases, allowing him to seek justice for the abuse he suffered.
Officials from Special Olympics International and Special Olympics Maine expressed shock and sadness over the allegations, stating that any breach of trust by individuals involved in the organization “tears at the fabric of the movement.” Frank, who was not a Special Olympics athlete, claims that the organization should have known about Boutilier’s history of abuse and taken steps to stop him. The organizations have committed to investigating the allegations, emphasizing that the severity of the claims is not diminished by the passage of time.
Mark Frank’s lawsuit details how he met Boutilier in 1967 when he was just nine years old, under Boutilier’s coaching for a basketball team in Gorham, Maine. The abuse allegedly began when Frank was 11, after Boutilier exposed him to pornography and alcohol. Frank claims that he was abused on numerous occasions throughout the two decades that followed, with the abuse continuing even after Special Olympics Maine was formally established in 1973. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the emotional and psychological harm Frank endured as a result of the abuse.
Attorney Michael Bigos, representing Frank, stated that the organizations responsible for the welfare of children should have been aware of the risks of sexual abuse and taken adequate measures to prevent it. He encouraged other potential victims to come forward, although at present, Frank is the only known victim to have brought allegations against Boutilier. Boutilier, who had a background in special education and served as a teacher in various locations, established Special Olympics Maine after being inspired by the inaugural Special Olympics event founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
The lawsuit against Boutilier comes in the wake of a legislative change in Maine that extended the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse. This legislative amendment allowed Frank to seek legal recourse against Boutilier and sheds light on the need for organizations to be vigilant in protecting vulnerable individuals from potential abusers. The response from Special Olympics International and Special Olympics Maine indicates that they are taking the allegations seriously and are committed to investigating the claims thoroughly. The lawsuit serves as a testament to Frank’s courage in coming forward to seek justice for the abuse he suffered at the hands of Boutilier.
