Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Racist Death Threats, Faces Prison

Photo byiSkyCreations - News & Media / Dall-E

LEWISTON, ME – In a troubling revelation of racial harassment within a local community, Charles Allen Barnes, a 46-year-old resident of Lewiston, Maine, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of making threatening communications in interstate commerce. The charges come after Barnes admitted to sending a racially charged death threat to a Black family residing in his apartment complex.

Court documents reveal that in August 2022, Barnes utilized Facebook Messenger to record and send a voice message filled with racial slurs and violent threats directed at his neighbor. In this message, Barnes explicitly threatened to kill his neighbor, accompanying his threats with derogatory references to the neighbor’s race. He claimed to be waiting in his car outside the neighbor’s apartment, ready to attack the next person who exited the building. This menacing recording was initially sent to an acquaintance of Barnes, who, in turn, alarmed by the content, forwarded it to the intended victim to alert her of the potential danger.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division condemned Barnes's actions, stating, “Charles Barnes thought that hiding behind a social media account would shield him from the consequences of terrorizing his neighbors with vile, racist death threats, but he was wrong.” She emphasized that the Justice Department remains committed to prosecuting those who engage in racially motivated violence and threats.

U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine reaffirmed this stance, declaring that hate crimes will not be tolerated in Maine. She underscored the commitment of local, state, and federal law enforcement to pursue justice for victims of racial harassment and violence, noting that Barnes’s conduct does not reflect the values of the Maine community.

Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Boston Division remarked on the case, highlighting that threats of violence are not protected under free speech and warrant serious legal consequences.

A sentencing hearing for Barnes will be scheduled at a later date, where he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, including a possible sentencing enhancement if it is found that Barnes targeted his victim based on race.

The case was investigated by the FBI Boston Field Office, Lewiston Police Department, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheila Sawyer for the District of Maine, showcasing the serious legal response to hate crimes and racially motivated harassment in the community.

For Immediate Release: Office of Public Affairs

Photo byiSkyCreations - News & Media