3 days ago
Girl who alleges she was repeatedly sexually assaulted as child in CT awarded $32M in lawsuit
An alleged sexual assault victim has been awarded of total of approximately $32 million after suing a man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting her as a juvenile in Southbury before he was arrested and allegedly found with child sexual abuse materials.
The damages, outlined in a judgement dated May 21, are against 75-year-old Edgar Mills of Southbury, according to documents filed in Superior Court in Torrington.
The lawsuit, filed in January by New Milford-based attorneys Ryan Henry and Elizabeth Gilbert, alleged that Mills sexually assaulted a girl on multiple occasions at a barn on his property in Southbury between September 2021 and December 2024, when he was arrested by Connecticut State Police on sexual assault and related charges.
The lawsuit claims that Mills filmed the alleged sexual abuse to create child sex abuse material, which he allegedly distributed, according to the suit.
As a result of the alleged abuse, the girl said she endured 'severe emotional and psychological distress' and feelings of guilt, shame and shock as well as fear, distress and apprehension. She entered into therapy and will likely have to continue to receive treatment, the lawsuit said.
Mills' arrest followed an investigation that began when authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to the lawsuit. The tip alleged that numerous items of child sexual abuse material involving a young girl had been put online.
The tip was later allegedly tied to Mills before authorities went to his home and allegedly located cameras, a tripod and other items set up in a barn, according to court documents. Investigators later obtained a search warrant for the property and seized a number of items.
Mills' criminal case remains pending in Waterbury Superior Court. He is being held in lieu of a $1 million bond and is scheduled to make an appearance on June 18.
According to court records, Mills has pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, five counts of first-degree sexual assault and a single count each of employing a minor in an obscene performance, first-degree possession of child pornography and risk of injury to a child.
The total judgement against Mills in the civil lawsuit came to about $32 million. The victim was awarded $27.5 million in noneconomic damages and a little over $1.4 million in economic damages. The attorney fees came to a little more than $3 million, court documents said.
Henry and Gilbert did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday.
