Mistrial Declared in Hampton Child Sexual Assault Case

A mistrial was declared Wednesday afternoon in a Hampton man's trial on felony charges alleging he sexually assaulted three young children.

A Rockingham Superior Court clerk confirmed Wednesday afternoon that a mistrial has been declared in the case against Leonard “Lenny” Aldrich, 64, of 340 Lafayette Road, Apt. 107. The clerk said no additional information or information about future court dates for Aldrich was available as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, though.

The Union Leader has reported that Judge Marguerite Wageling declared a mistrial because the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families may not have released all of the records associated with the alleged abuse. The paper reported that the discovery was made after the 8-year-old male victim and the mother of the female victims offered contradictory testimony on Tuesday about witnessing the girls' assault.

The Union Leader reported that Wageling said the court "had some difficulty" with obtaining records from DCYF earlier in the process. Aldrich will remain imprisoned at the Rockingham County House of Corrections while lawyers prepare for a new trial.

Assistant County Attorney Stephanie Johnson, the lead prosecutor on the case, couldn't be reached for comment.

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