A new lawsuit has been filed against Melvin “Mickey” Boutilier, the founder of Special Olympics Maine, accusing him of grooming and sexually abusing Mark Frank when he was nine years old. The abuse allegedly spanned two decades before Boutilier’s death in 2012. Frank, now 65, was able to bring the lawsuit due to a loosened statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases, allowing him to seek justice for the abuse he suffered at the hands of Boutilier. Special Olympics International and Special Olympics Maine expressed shock and sadness over the allegations and stated that such a breach of trust damages the integrity of the organization.
Mark Frank, who was not a Special Olympics athlete, alleges in the lawsuit that Boutilier groomed him for abuse starting in 1967 when he joined a basketball team coached by Boutilier. The abuse reportedly began when Frank was 11 years old and continued for years, with Boutilier providing him with alcohol and pornography before sexually abusing him. Allegedly, Frank also accompanied Boutilier on business trips and was provided with employment opportunities, all while being threatened to keep the abuse quiet. Special Olympics Maine should have known about Boutilier’s history of abuse and failed to protect Frank from harm, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the emotional and psychological damage Frank suffered as a result of the abuse he endured at the hands of Boutilier. Attorney Michael Bigos, representing Frank, encouraged other potential victims to come forward but stated that he was not aware of any additional victims at the time. Boutilier, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 83, had a history of service in the Army before becoming a special education teacher and starting Special Olympics Maine. Despite his contributions to the organization, the allegations of abuse raised questions about the protection of vulnerable individuals within the Special Olympics community.
The passage of time does not diminish the severity of the allegations, as both Special Olympics International and Special Olympics Maine take the claims very seriously and have initiated an investigation. The Maine Legislature’s decision to loosen the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits for childhood sexual abuse has allowed Frank and others to seek legal recourse against those responsible for their trauma. The impact of the allegations on the Special Olympics movement is significant, as trust and safety within the organization are paramount to its mission of inclusion and empowerment for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
While Boutilier’s contributions to Special Olympics Maine and the field of special education are noted in his obituary, the allegations of sexual abuse have cast a shadow over his legacy. The allegations highlight the importance of organizations recognizing and addressing the risk of perpetrators of sexual abuse, especially in environments where vulnerable individuals, such as children with intellectual disabilities, may be at heightened risk. The lawsuit serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance in protecting individuals from harm and holding perpetrators of abuse accountable for their actions. Despite the challenges faced by survivors of abuse, seeking justice and accountability through legal avenues can help in the healing process and prevent further harm from occurring in the future.
