Maine man gets 30 months for racially motivated threats

Charles Allen Barnes (Police mugshot)

WASHINGTON - A Lewiston, Maine, man was sentenced on Wednesday to 30 months in prison for threatening a black family who lived in his apartment complex.

Charles Allen Barnes, 47, previously pleaded gulty to one count of threatening communications in interstate commerce. In connection with his plea, Barnes admitted to sending a Facebook voice message in which he stated that he was outside a neighbor's residence and would kill anyone who emerged. In the message, Barnes repeatedly used racial slurs to refer to the victims.

"Violent and racially motivated threats have no place in our society," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "This defendant, a self-described racist skinhead, used social media to terrorize his innocent neighbors because they are black. This sentence cannot undo the fear and trauma his hateful actions caused but should make clear that online threats come with real-world penalties. The Justice Department is steadfast in enforcing our federal civil rights laws to ensure all communities, including communities of color, are protected from hate-fueled threats of violence."

"The hate-fueled threat and his subsequent possession of a weapon nearby instilled fear in this family in the one place we all should feel safest," said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine. "Hate of any kind will not be tolerated in Maine, and we will continue to pursue justice for victims of racial harassment, threats, and violence."

According to evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Barnes harbored longstanding racist views, espoused white supremacist rhetoric online and had described himself to an acquaintance as a racist skinhead. After hearing this and other evidence, the court enhanced the sentence based on its finding that Barnes intentionally selected his victims because of race. The court also heard that, several hours after Barnes sent the threatening message, police officers found him sitting outside of his apartment located in the same complex, armed with a large knife. Based on this evidence, the court imposed an additional sentencing enhancement.