Kidnapping, Sex Assault Suspect Waives Probable Cause

A Milton man charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a developmentally disabled adult male in a Home Depot parking lot waived probable cause on Monday morning in Portsmouth Circuit Court.

John C. Riley, 41, of 1147 White Mountain Highway in Milton, appeared in Portsmouth Circuit Court dressed in a suit with his lawyer, attorney Lincoln Soldati of Portsmouth. Riley agreed to have no contact with the adult male victim in the case as well as a second person and to observe his previously ordered bail conditions.

Judge Sawato Gardner then agreed to transfer his case to Rockingham County Superior Court where a Rockingham County grand jury will now consider whether to indict Riley, who was previously named the New Hampshire case worker of the year for the work he did with developmentally disabled people at Living Innovations in Portsmouth.

"Our position is that John is not guilty of these matters that he has been charged with and we think in the end that justice will prevail," Soldati said following the hearing. "John's family is very supportive and obviously these kinds of charges are very upsetting."

During his arraignment in Hampton District Court on Jan. 18, Riley's bail was set at $30,000 cash and $35,000 personal recognizance. Soldati said that Riley made his bail and will remain free on bail as his case proceeds to the superior court. Riley's bail conditions also prohibit him from having any contact with Living Innovations, One Sky Community Services or Community Services of Strafford.

Soldati would not comment on whether Riley is working or where Riley is living, but he said there is nothing in Riley's bail conditions that prevents him from working with the developmentally disabled because he has not been convicted of any crime.

on Arthur Brady Drive on the night of Nov. 2 following a Halloween Party at Living Innovations in Portsmouth. Police say that Riley then performed sexual acts on the male victim without the victim's consent.