Berlin man fined for stealing Pride flags

Aug. 21—A Berlin man will pay a $5,000 fine for violating the state's Civil Rights Act when he stole rainbow Pride flags from the same home three times last year in that city.

The Attorney General's Office on Wednesday announced a negotiated consent decree has been approved in a civil complaint filed against Hayden Anderson, 22, earlier this year. That complaint alleged that Anderson had violated the Civil Rights Act by trespassing on the victims' property to steal their flags, motivated by their "sexual orientation and/or gender identity."

A Coos County Superior Court judge imposed a $10,000 civil penalty, with half of that fine suspended for two years if Anderson complies with certain conditions, according to a news release from the AG's office.

"The Court found that sexual orientation and/or gender identity motivated Mr. Anderson's conduct and that his conduct interfered with the victims' lawful activities," the statement said.

According to court documents in the case, when Berlin police investigators identified Anderson as a suspect, they confronted him at his workplace and he admitted to the thefts of the flags, the complaint said. But he denied being motivated by discrimination, "instead claiming he committed those thefts because he was intoxicated at the time."

Berlin police recovered six Pride flags from a closet at Anderson's home and later charged Anderson with theft and criminal trespass. He pleaded guilty to nine misdemeanor charges.

In addition to the fine, the court barred Anderson from contacting the victims or their families, and from approaching their homes or workplaces. He was also ordered to comply with the recommendations of a substance abuse assessment.