New Hampshire man sentenced for harassing journalist over negative coverage

Tucker Cockerline, a 33-year-old man from Salem, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to harass a journalist. This harassment was in response to negative coverage of Eric Spofford, the founder of Granite Recovery Centers, published in March 2022. Cockerline pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel, and his sentencing was overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani. Cockerline was one of four men indicted for their involvement in an intimidation campaign against a New Hampshire Public Radio reporter and their editor. The group vandalized properties associated with the journalist on multiple occasions in April and May 2022, which included spray painting derogatory messages and throwing a brick through a window. The intimidation tactics were reportedly a direct retaliation for the journalist's article that highlighted issues related to Spofford and his treatment center. The campaign of harassment not only targeted the journalist but also affected the reporter's parents' home, indicating the extent of the group's actions. Cockerline's co-conspirators, Michael Waselchuck and Eric Labarge, are also facing legal consequences, with Waselchuck's sentencing scheduled for September 9 and Labarge's for October 18. Keenan Saniatan is expected to plead guilty in a hearing set for September 5. This case underscores the serious implications of retaliatory actions against journalists and the importance of protecting press freedom.