Peterborough Police say they have laid charges under new federal hate crime laws for the first time following an investigation into a series of online threats.
Police say they became aware in early August of online threats allegedly directed toward several Peterborough residents.
As part of the investigation, the Peterborough Police Service Major Crime Unit obtained a search warrant for a residence in the city.
Officers executed the warrant on August 13 and took 50-year-old Kevin Goudreau of Peterborough into custody.
Goudreau has been charged with two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm motivated by hatred, two additional counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and five counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
Police say investigators determined that two of the online posts involved in the case were allegedly motivated by hatred. The service says the case marks the first time it has laid charges under the new federal hate crime laws.
According to police, Goudreau was bound by three probation orders, including conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour and not to post information about two of the alleged victims.
The accused is scheduled to make another court appearance on August 18.
The charges have not been proven in court.
