NEW GLOUCESTER — The town manager has taken out a Temporary Protection from Harassment Order against a resident accused of threatening to kill town officials.

Town Manager Paul First received the temporary order from the Cumberland County District Court on Friday against Frank Staton Jr. It covers all town employees and selectmen. 

Staton said Friday he made no threats and claims town officials are making false allegations to retaliate against him for pointing out problems with the town.

“I’m not a criminal,” he said. “I don’t threaten anybody in any shape, way or form. I may be verbal, maybe you call it colorful, in the way I say things. I may swear more than the average person, but I don’t threaten people.”

He said he was OK with the protection order.

“There’s nothing to protect against … I have nothing to worry about. I’m not out to do anything to anybody,” he said.

A civil court hearing on making the temporary order permanent has been scheduled for June 23.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating allegations that Staton, 41, is keeping a “kill list” of the names of several public officials with whom he has differences. Town officials have said Staton also threatened violence by email and phone calls.

“New Gloucester is a peaceful community,” First said in a statement released Friday afternoon. These incidents are unfortunate. Town officials are doing their best to take the threats seriously, but not to let this distract us from the business of serving our community,”
 
In his statement, First said Staton threatened many town officials over the past six or seven years and those threats have been renewed in recent weeks.

Staton has not been charged.

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New Gloucester Maine
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