Attorney General Aaron Frey announced today that he has filed a Complaint under the Maine Civil Right Act against Dale O’Brien, 52, of Jonesboro for threats against an interracial couple and their children on April 11, 2023, near the couple’s home in Jonesboro.  The Attorney General’s Complaint seeks an orde prohibiting O’Brien from having any contact with the man and from violating the Maine Civil Rights Act in the future.

According to the Complaint, O’Brien is a neighbor of the victims, a Black man, his white wife and their two young children.  On April 11, 2023, the victims were walking their dogs with their children along a private road, whch the owner had long ago given them permission to do.  The victims were initially approached by O’Brien’s wife, who threatened that they could be shot for walking on private property.  The victims informed the woman, as they had on previous occasions, that the owner of the private road had granted them explicit permission to walk along the road and that they were not trespassing.

When the victims exited the private roadway approximately 20 minutes later, they heard three gunshots.  O’Brien whose property abuts the private road, came out from behind his home and began yelling at the victims and their young children to “get out,” before pointing a handgun directly at them.  O’Brien only lowered the handgun after one of the victims pulled out a cell phone to record the interaction.  The victims and their family feared for their safety and reported O’Brien’s behavior to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

This incident was not the first time O’Brien had threatened the victims.

“Attorney General Frey commented:  “There is absoluely no place in Maine for this  type of behavior.  A young couple walkig with their children down a road they had an express right to be on should be free from the ignorant, dangerous behavior we allege the defedant subjected them to.  No one should be targeted by threats of violence based on their race and my office will actively confront racist threats in our communities.”

The Maine Civil Rights Act prohibits the use of violence, the threat of violence or property damage against any person motivated by that person’s race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disabilities, sexual orientation, or gender identity.  Any violation of an injunctive order under the act is a Class D crime, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,000. fine.