Attorney General John M. Formella announces the initiation of an enforcement action by the Civil Rights Unit against Lavaughn Barnett, alleging five violations of the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act.
The civil complaint alleges that on August 8, 2023, Mr. Barnett when to the victim’s home and demanded to speak with her about their recently ended romantic relationship. The victim agreed to go with Mr. Barnett to avoid a confrontation on the street. Mr. Barnett took the victim to his home despite her protests. Mr. Barnett believed that the victim had cheated on him with another man and demanded to search her phone.
At Mr. Barnett’s home, he threatened the victim to compel her to go to his bedroom. While there, the victim told Mr. Barnett that she did not wish to date him anymore and that she is bisexual. Upon hearing that the victim is bisexual Mr. Barnett struck the victim in the head multiple times with his fists; he then struck her right eye multiple times, which broke her right orbital; he strangled the victim; he struck the victim in the legs with a small metal baseball bat; and when the victim tried to leave, he bit her on the arm. Mr. Barnett’s family checked on him and the victim to find out what was happening. Mr. Barnett informed the family member that the victim was “a lesbian” before closing the door.
When police arrived, Mr. Barnett admitted that he struck the victim after she told him about her sexual orientation and made repeated references to the victim’s sexual orientation when describing the incident.
The civil complaint alleges that Mr. Barnett’s conduct constituted five separate uses of unlawful force or violence motivated by the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation and that his conduct interfered with the victim’s otherwise lawful activities.
Each violation of the Civil Rights Act allows for a maximum civil penalty of $5,000. Violations of the Civil Rights Act also empower the court to restrain the defendant from committing future violations of the Civil Rights Act and other hate-motivated conduct for three years. With its complaint, the Civil Rights Unit has asked the court to implement a preliminary restraining order to protect the victim and the public from Mr. Barnett.
The complaints and the allegations contained herein are merely accusations that the Civil Rights Unit must prove at a final hearing.
The Civil Rights Unit enforces state civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act and the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination. Anyone who believes their civil rights have been violated may file a complaint at https://www.doj.nh.gov/bureaus/civil-rights-unit or by calling 603-271-3650.
Original source can be found here.