In a recent development, Attorney General John M. Formella announced the initiation of an enforcement action against Lavaughn Barnett for alleged civil rights violations. Barnett is accused of committing multiple acts of violence against his ex-girlfriend because of her sexual orientation, as detailed in a civil complaint filed by the New Hampshire Civil Rights Unit. The complaint outlines a harrowing series of events that took place on August 8, 2023, when Barnett reportedly assaulted the victim after learning of her bisexuality.

According to the complaint, Barnett demanded to search the victim's phone under the suspicion of infidelity. The confrontation escalated back at Barnett's home where he proceeded to physically assault her in several ways, including striking her head, breaking her right orbital, strangling her, hitting her with a metal baseball bat, and biting her arm. The gravity of this situation was compounded when his family member arrived, to which Barnett referred to the victim as "a lesbian" before closing the door on them. When police arrived, Barnett admitted to assaulting the victim based on her sexual orientation.

This case represents a grave instance of hate-motivated violence, with the civil complaint alleging that Barnett's conduct constituted five separate uses of unlawful force or violence, motivated by the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation. The allegations suggest that Barnett's actions were an attempt to specifically interfere with the victim's lawful activities due to her sexual orientation.

The Civil Rights Unit has asked the court not only to penalize Barnett with a maximum civil penalty of $5,000 per violation but also to implement a preliminary restraining order to protect the victim and the public. The restraining order seeks to prevent Barnett from committing future hate-motivated conduct, marking a clear stance against such abhorrent behavior. However, it is important to note that the complaints are currently accusations and the Civil Rights Unit will need to prove them at a final hearing.