Eric Labarge, 46, of Nashua, was recently sentenced to 46 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to “harass and intimidate” journalists at New Hampshire Public Radio. Courtesy photo/Manchester Police Department

NASHUA – Eric Labarge, 46, of Nashua, was sentenced on Nov. 25 to 46 months in prison for his role as the ringleader in the effort to “harass and intimidate” journalists Daniel Barrick and Lauren Chooljian of New Hampshire Public Radio.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in March 2022, Chooljian published a story detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against Eric Spofford, the founder of Green Mountain Treatment Center and a prominent leader in New Hampshire’s fight against the opioid epidemic.

After learning of Chooljian’s story, Spofford quickly became enraged and recruited his friend Labarge to seek revenge against Chooljian and Barrick, NHPR’s news director.

To assist him, Labarge enlisted Tucker Cockerline, 32, of Salem, Michael Waselchuck, 35, of Seabrook and Keenan Saniatan, 36, of Nashua.

Spofford also filed a 396-page defamation lawsuit against Chooljian, Barrick and four other NHPR reporters. However, the case was dismissed by Rockingham Superior Court Judge Daniel St. Hilaire, who ruled that Spofford failed to prove actual malice.

During April and May 2022, Labarge and his accomplices unleashed hell. On five separate occasions, they vandalized Chooljian’s home, her parents’ home and Barrick’s home. The four perpetrators also spray painted “c*nt” on Chooljian’s home and hurled bricks through the windows.

“Mr. Labarge was the ringleader of a targeted, terror campaign that caused the victims, journalists exercising their First Amendment rights and their families, incredible fear and emotional harm,” said U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy. “Mr. Labarge’s terror campaign sent ripples of fear throughout the journalism community and violated the bedrock principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding the rights of journalists to report without fear of retribution and to put behind bars those who try to silence the media through threats and violence.”

The torment finally ended on the evening of May 20, 2022 when Waselchuck threw a brick through one of Barrick’s windows and spray painted “Just the beginning” on the front of the house.

However, Waselchuck’s statement proved to be incorrect as he, Labarge, Cockerline and Saniatan were all indicted in September 2023.

In July of this year, Labarge pleaded guilty to a five-count indictment. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel and using a facility of interstate commerce, one count of conspiracy to commit stalking using a facility of interstate commerce, one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce and aiding and abetting and two counts of stalking through interstate travel and aiding and abetting.

Following his prison sentence, Labarge will be on supervised release for three years. He will also pay a $10,000 fine and $34,139 in restitution to the victims.

“Eric Labarge will now pay a hefty price for being the vindictive ringleader of an elaborate harassment campaign that inflicted significant emotional harm, stress and fear on New Hampshire Public Radio employees and their family members who were simply just doing their jobs,” said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Let today’s sentence be a warning: anyone attempting to infringe on the freedom of the press, a constitutionally protected right, will not get away with it.”

Cockerline was sentenced to 27 months in prison while Waselchuck will serve 21 months. Like Labarge, their sentences will be followed by three years of supervised release.

Saniatan is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 6.