On the first day of testimony, a mistrial was declared in the case of a Buxton man who allegedly threatened to kill Jews because a witness learned he was positive for COVID-19 shortly after testifying.
Jon Levy, chief justice of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, said that U.S. Border Patrol agent Jonathan Duquette, who does work for the FBI in Portland, found out he was positive during a court recess.
Duquette’s testimony wasn’t completed before the recess, Levy said. He wore a mask for the entirety of his time on the witness stand. Levy said he weighed different options, and had spoken extensively to both U.S. Attorneys and Dennison’s attorneys, but decided that a mistrial must be declared.
Brian Dennison, 25, of Buxton has been charged with one count of transmitting a threat through interstate communication for allegedly posting on Twitter, “I’m going to kill jews with my ar15 tomorrow” on the second day of Rosh Hashanah in September 2021. He has pleaded not guilty to that charge.
