A Goffstown man is facing a civil complaint alleging he violated the state’s Civil Rights Act when he removed a “Goffstown Pride” sign last year from the intersection of Route 114 and Route 114A in Goffstown.

According to the complaint filed in Hillsborough County Superior Court Northern District, Frank Hobbs Jr., 56, when interviewed by Goffstown police Sgt. Kevin Laroche, initially denied any knowledge of the theft.

However, when the officer told him there were photos of him allegedly stealing the sign, Hobbs asked whether the law prohibits or permits picking up “roadside trash.”

Laroche questioned whether that was Hobbs’ intention since he left other signs untouched that had been at that location for a while, and removed only the “Goffstown Pride” sign. Hobbs, according to court filings, began arguing with Laroche about whether he could be charged with theft for picking up roadside trash.

After the argument, Hobbs then claimed he had previously been told by unidentified people at Town Hall that he could remove signs that displayed “Pedophile Symbols.” He told the officer he found the “Goffstown Pride” sign offensive like the “pedophile” sign and removed it.

P.B., who filed the complaint with Goffstown Police, said in an emailed statement that, “What Frank Hobbs did was wrong. I support the Attorney General in their filing of a civil rights violation against him. It is an important step toward accountability. It’s about standing up for what’s right and making it clear that civil rights violations won’t be ignored. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.”

P.B. asked her name not be disclosed.

On June 5, 2024, P.B. met with Sgt. Laroche at the police department to complaint that several Pride signs she placed at the intersection had been stolen while other were left undisturbed.

She said she put up the first sign two weeks earlier and it went missing a few days later. She also learned a friend had put up a sign that read “Protect Feminism” at the same intersection and that, too, was missing.

After learning of the other theft, P.B. purchased two trail cams. On June 4, 2023, P.B. put up another “Goffstown Pride” sign at the intersection, along with two trail cams to monitor the area. The next day, P.B. drove by the intersection and her sign was gone. P.B. checked the trail cam photos and saw that at 6:12 a.m. on June 5, 2024, a man, who she recognized to be Frank Hobbs Jr., removed the sign at the intersection. Laroche recognized him as well.

The civil complaint, brought by the Civil Rights Unit of the NH Department of Justice, alleges that on June 5, 2024, Hobbs trespassed upon and later destroyed the property of P.B., when he removed a sign that had been lawfully placed on public property. Several signs had been placed by members of the public at the same location, but Hobbs only removed a new sign that read, “Goffstown Pride,” and expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Hobbs damaged the property when he disposed of and likely destroyed the sign, according to the attorney general. The complaint further alleges that animus on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity motivated the trespass and damage to the sign.