An investigator found grounds to believe a couple was evicted because the husband

is African-American.
By Lisa Chmelecki
Staff Writer

LEWISTON – A local family claims that they were evicted from their apartment in Litchfield because the husband and son are black.

Preston and Audrey Williams filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission against their former landlord, Leiane Desrosiers, accusing her of discriminating against them on the basis of race and color.

After interviewing the couple, Desrosiers and neighbors, an investigator for the rights commission found reasonable grounds to believe that the couple has a case.

“Ms. Desrosiers has offered different reasons for different forums for evicting the Williams,” investigator Barbara Lelli wrote in her report to the commission. “Her shifting explanations raise doubt about her veracity.”

Preston and Audrey Williams allege that Desrosiers sent them an eviction notice in October 2002 because Preston is black and Audrey is white, and also because Preston’s 14-year-old son, who is also black, moved into the apartment in September.

Desrosiers told the investigator that her reasons for wanting to evict the couple had nothing do with race. She claims that she evicted them because they violated the conditions of the lease by having a third person move in.

According to the investigator’s report, Desrosiers initially claimed that she was worried because she believed that the son was sleeping in the utility room with the propane tanks.

When she found out that he was sleeping in the sun room, she expressed concerns about that room being unheated. She also cited concerns about the capacity of the sewer system, the report says.

Desrosiers told the investigator that it wouldn’t have been an issue if it were a two-bedroom apartment.

But Lelli didn’t buy it, citing a situation with another one of Desrosiers’ tenants who had a baby and wasn’t evicted despite the fact that her lease allowed for a certain number of tenants.

According to the report, this same neighbor told Lelli that Desrosiers mentioned when she moved in that her neighbor, Preston Williams, was black and told her that she hoped she didn’t have a problem with it.

There is credible evidence, Lelli concluded, that Desrosiers “is highly conscious of race and uncomfortable with African-Americans.”

“It is obvious that the alleged lease violation is not the real reason for the eviction,” Lelli continued.

Neither Desrosiers nor her former tenants could be reached. The listed phone number for Desrosiers has been disconnected, and the phone number for Preston and Audrey Williams is not listed.

According to the report, Preston and Audrey Williams agreed to move out of the apartment after Desrosiers took them to court. Their complaint will now head to the rights commission, which will decide whether grounds for discrimination exist.

If the panel votes on May 19 to support the couple, they will have the option of suing their former landlord in federal court with backing from the commission.

lchmelecki@sunjournal.com

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