The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Investigations
  • Support the Maine Wire
  • Store
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Trump Boots Bondi, Hands DOJ to Loyalist Todd Blanche Amid Growing Fallout
  • New Portland Man Arrested for Arson Incidents in 2023 and 2024
  • Average Tank of Fuel Oil in Maine Now $475. More Expensive Compared to February
  • Partisan Vote Advances Bill Supporting Conversion of Vacant Schools into Residential Housing
  • After Attacking Trump and Oz, Maine’s Mills Quietly Cracks Down on Medicaid Fraud Free-for-All
  • Pingree Targets Faulkingham Fallout While Ignoring Claims of Political Retaliation
  • Northeastern Superintendent Syndicate Featuring Maine Progressive Ladies Ravages Massachusetts Town Budgets.
  • Mills Ignores Feminist Group’s Questions About Trans Inmates in Women’s Prison
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Friday, April 3
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Investigations
  • Support the Maine Wire
  • Store
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Crime » New Hampshire AG Files Civil Rights Act Complaint Against Man Accused of Vandalizing Jewish Temple
Crime

New Hampshire AG Files Civil Rights Act Complaint Against Man Accused of Vandalizing Jewish Temple

Each violation of the Civil Rights Act allows for a maximum civil penalty of $5,000.
Edward TomicBy Edward TomicAugust 23, 2024Updated:August 23, 20245 Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella has filed Civil Rights Act complaint against a man accused of vandalizing a Jewish temple in Portsmouth this April, an act which allegedly involved the smashing of two antique lanterns with a hammer.

Kevin O’Leary, 31, of Portsmouth, N.H. | Source: Portsmouth Police Department

The Portsmouth Police Department launched an investigation into the vandalism incident on April 9, which resulted in the arrest of 31-year-old Kevin O’Leary of Portsmouth on charges of criminal mischief and hate-motivated criminal mischief.

Police said the incident, which occurred on the night of April 8 at Temple Israel in downtown Portsmouth, was a “targeted case of vandalism.”

Temple Israel Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman said in a statement following the vandalism incident that the perpetrator “intentionally smashed two antique light sconces” that displayed Stars of David on stained-glass panels.

“These light fixtures have stained-glass panels on three sides that feature a Jewish star design,” Stern-Kaufman said. “The perpetrator struck the glass directly on the Stars of David in a deliberate desecration of our sacred space and a bigoted attack on our faith community.”

According to Stern-Kaufman, the light sconces were installed in 1921 and “represent the legacy of generations of Jews who have worshiped” at the temple, which was founded in 1912.

In Attorney General Formella’s civil rights complaint, it is alleged that on April 8, O’Leary approached Temple Israel and smashed the two decorative lanterns with a hammer.

“Each lantern contained stained glass that depicted the Star of David, a symbol of the Jewish community and a symbol displayed on the flag of the State of Israel,” the New Hampshire Department of Justice stated. “Mr. O’Leary came to Temple Israel prepared and planning to destroy the lanterns.”

The complaint, announced on Friday, includes a request for a preliminary restraining order against O’Leary.

The alleged vandalism of each lantern constitutes two separate acts of property damage, and is therefore being treated by Formella as two violations of the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act, according to the complaint.

Each violation of the Civil Rights Act allows for a maximum civil penalty of $5,000.

Previous ArticlePortland Schools’ Equity Push Aims for All Students to Have Equal Outcomes, Equal Experiences
Next Article SCOTUS Will Allow Arizona’s “Proof of Citizenship” Voter Registration Law — With Limits
Edward Tomic

Edward Tomic is a reporter for The Maine Wire based in Southern Maine. He grew up near Boston, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Boston University. He can be reached at [email protected]

Latest News

Trump Boots Bondi, Hands DOJ to Loyalist Todd Blanche Amid Growing Fallout

April 2, 2026

New Portland Man Arrested for Arson Incidents in 2023 and 2024

April 2, 2026

Average Tank of Fuel Oil in Maine Now $475. More Expensive Compared to February

April 2, 2026
0 0 votes
Article Rating
5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Boxcar
Boxcar
1 year ago

Democratic scum. Doing the work of Lucifer. He should pay restitution for this crime.

1
Jerry Sirois
Jerry Sirois
1 year ago

So what are this creeps pronouns ?
It doesn’t look like a productive member of society to me .
More human refuse to feed and house .

4
Oldenoughtoknowbetter
Oldenoughtoknowbetter
1 year ago

WTH is it? Obviously the bottom of the gene pool.

2
Esau
Esau
1 year ago

That picture is me infidel. It puts the lotion on it’s skin and enjoys it.

1
Grrr
Grrr
1 year ago

It puts the lotion in the basket or else it gets the hose again!

Please tell me they checked his property for secret rooms, underground bomb shelters, and hidden crawl spaces.

0
Recent News

Trump Boots Bondi, Hands DOJ to Loyalist Todd Blanche Amid Growing Fallout

April 2, 2026

New Portland Man Arrested for Arson Incidents in 2023 and 2024

April 2, 2026

Average Tank of Fuel Oil in Maine Now $475. More Expensive Compared to February

April 2, 2026

Partisan Vote Advances Bill Supporting Conversion of Vacant Schools into Residential Housing

April 2, 2026

After Attacking Trump and Oz, Maine’s Mills Quietly Cracks Down on Medicaid Fraud Free-for-All

April 2, 2026
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.

wpDiscuz