Daniel Earl Danforth, Civil Rights Violations, Louisiana 2008

By Grimy Times Crime Desk

A shocking display of racial hatred has rocked the small town of Athens, Louisiana. Daniel Earl Danforth, 30, of Minden, La., has been indicted by a federal grand jury for hate crime violations and obstruction of justice charges stemming from a cross-burning in Athens, La., last year near the home of an interracial couple.

Danforth was arrested today following the return of the indictment on Sept. 25, 2009, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Loretta King and U.S. Attorney Donald W. Washington for the Western District of Louisiana.

The indictment alleges that Danforth agreed with at least one other person to build, erect and burn a cross near the home of an interracial couple and relatives who were believed to approve of the interracial relationship. According to court documents, Danforth and his co-conspirator used small pine trees to form a cross, which they then transported to an area adjacent to the victims’ home and where they set the cross on fire in order to intimidate the couple.

Prosecutors say Danforth and his accomplice attempted to recruit others to join the conspiracy, but when that failed, they went ahead with the plan. The indictment also alleges that several days later, after the defendant learned that the FBI was investigating this crime as a potential civil rights violation, he returned to the area and removed the cross to prevent the FBI from discovering it.

Danforth faces a maximum punishment of 10 years for each of the civil rights counts, 10 additional years for the use of fire and 20 years for the obstruction of justice count. If convicted, he will be sentenced accordingly.

The case was investigated by the FBI. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick for the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Erin Aslan from the Civil Rights Division.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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