Crime & Safety

AP: Freese to Appeal Hate Crime Conviction

Attorney says slurs were a convenient insult.

A Concord man convicted of felony assault and other charges is appealing a hate crime conviction in New Hampshire Supreme Court, according to the Associated Press.

Donald Freese, who was convicted in January to up to 12 years in prison, is having his defense attorney, Ted Barnes, challenge the conviction, saying the knife fight wasn't racial motivated but just a convenient insult. 

Before this conviction, Freese had a lengthy arrest record, including the Hooksett incident, a Salem theft incident, unlawful possession of alcohol, resisting, assault and criminal trespass, in 2011, and assault, drug possession, and probation violation in 2009, and assault in 2008.

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Joshua Peno pled guilty to other charges in the Hooksett incident in February. 

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