The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Maine State Police Blindsided as Speaker Talbot Ross Claims They Support “Racial Profiling” Bill Written by ACLU
  • No Discipline for Social Worker Who Gave 13yo Girl Breast Binder Without Telling Mother, Says Maine State Board
  • State House Kills “Right to Work” Legislation Prohibiting Employment Conditional on Payment of Union Dues
  • Trump Indicted on Federal Charges in Classified Documents Probe as Biden Faces Bribery Allegations
  • Gov’s Late-Term Abortion Bill Heads to House Amid Acrimony [Podcast]
  • Maine Wire Podcast: Carroll Conley on Abortion, LGBT, and Religious Liberty in Maine
  • Dems Block Debate on Gov’s Late-Term Abortion Bill, Refuse GOP Questioning of Medical Experts
  • Partisan Vote Ends Brakey’s Bid for Welfare Work Requirements
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Saturday, June 10
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » AG Frey Files Civil Rights Case After Tumultuous Week of Bad Headlines
News

AG Frey Files Civil Rights Case After Tumultuous Week of Bad Headlines

Steve RobinsonBy Steve RobinsonApril 12, 2023Updated:April 12, 2023No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey announced Wednesday that he has filed a civil rights complaint against a Lewiston man accused of threatening to kill a Black woman in a racist voicemail.

Charles Barnes, 45, allegedly left a voicemail for a 32-year-old Black woman on August 30, 2022, saying he was parked outside her apartment and waiting for someone to step outside, threatening that the first person to do so would die. Barnes continued, stating, “I don’t care if it’s her kid, or her, or her boyfriend. I don’t care…I’m killing me a [racial epithet].”

The victim contacted the Lewiston police, leading to Barnes’ arrest on charges of terrorizing. His criminal case is still pending.

Frey didn’t say why the complaint was announced more than seven months after the crime occurred.

In March 2021, Frey filed a civil rights complaint just seven days after a racist attack on an Asian-American woman and her 12-year-old daughter.

In July 2020, Frey filed a civil rights complaint less than one month after a homophobic attack in a Shaw’s parking lot in Portland.

In January 2022, Frey filed a civil rights complaint against a man who allegedly made racist threats less than three months later.

The long time between Barnes’ alleged crime and Frey’s civil rights complaint may have something to do with Frey’s disclosure last week that he cheated on his girlfriend of 12 years with a married subordinate, Ariel Gannon, Child Protection Division Chief at the AG’s Office.

A flurry of negative headlines in the media followed, including a report in the Bangor Daily News that Senate President Troy Jackson (D-Aroostook) would be investigating Frey’s disclosed misconduct.

Political observers questioned whether Democratic leaders, including Maine Gov. Janet Mills, would call for Frey to step aside following the allegations, but it now appears that top Democrats are standing behind him.

Frey’s complaint under the Maine Civil Rights Act seeks a civil injunction that would prohibit Barnes from having any contact with the victim or her family and prevent him from violating the act in the future.

“The defendant’s statements amount to an outrageous threat of violence against the victim and all persons of color,” said Frey. “My office will take action under the Maine Civil Rights Act to enjoin racist threats that cause fear in our community and to prevent such threats from escalating into acts of violence.”

The Maine Civil Rights Act allows the Attorney General to take legal action against anyone who uses or threatens physical force, property damage, or violence motivated by bias against another person’s race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Violating an order issued under the act is a Class D crime, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Previous ArticleMaine’s NPR Affiliate Sticking With Twitter Despite Clash Over Accurate “Government-Funded Media” Label
Next Article Maine Schools are Becoming Anti-Parent and Anti-Learning
Steve Robinson
  • Twitter

Steve Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire. ‪He can be reached by email at Robinson@TheMaineWire.com.

Related Posts

Maine State Police Blindsided as Speaker Talbot Ross Claims They Support “Racial Profiling” Bill Written by ACLU

June 9, 2023

No Discipline for Social Worker Who Gave 13yo Girl Breast Binder Without Telling Mother, Says Maine State Board

June 9, 2023

State House Kills “Right to Work” Legislation Prohibiting Employment Conditional on Payment of Union Dues

June 9, 2023

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Maine State Police Blindsided as Speaker Talbot Ross Claims They Support “Racial Profiling” Bill Written by ACLU

June 9, 2023

No Discipline for Social Worker Who Gave 13yo Girl Breast Binder Without Telling Mother, Says Maine State Board

June 9, 2023

State House Kills “Right to Work” Legislation Prohibiting Employment Conditional on Payment of Union Dues

June 9, 2023

Trump Indicted on Federal Charges in Classified Documents Probe as Biden Faces Bribery Allegations

June 9, 2023

Gov’s Late-Term Abortion Bill Heads to House Amid Acrimony [Podcast]

June 9, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.