Seabrook man fined for threatening Black family

The Daily News of Newburyport, Mass.
·2 min read

Mar. 30—SEABROOK — A local man charged with yelling racial slurs at a Black family at a gas station last summer was fined $5,000 and ordered to stay away from them, according to Deputy Attorney General Jane Young.

In a statement released Monday, Young announced that Rockingham Superior Court found John Doran, 62, of Seabrook guilty of violating the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act.

Following a hearing March 17, the court found that Doran threatened the victim and the victim's family at Valero gas station July 29 when he pointed a gasoline hose in the victim's direction and uttered a racial slur while stating "get back" or "I'll (expletive) burn you! Go back to Africa!"

The family had stopped to speak to Doran at Valero after he suddenly shouted racial slurs at them.

The court concluded the conduct was motivated by animus toward the victim's race and intended to terrorize or coerce the victim and the victim's family, according to Young's statement.

Because the trial court found that Doran violated the Civil Rights Act, the court ordered him not to contact the victim and the victim's family, and to not knowingly come within 250 feet of them. The court also imposed a $5,000 fine to be paid within 30 days of the order.

If Doran violates the court order, he could face further civil and/or criminal penalties that include fines or jail time. The court's order will be in effect for three years but may be extended by order of the court, according to the Attorney General's Office.

Assistant Attorney General Sean Locke of the Civil Rights Unit prosecuted the case.

The Civil Rights Unit enforces state and federal civil rights laws, including the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act and the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, the release said.