Washington man sentenced for threats of mass violence

Published 2:39 pm Tuesday, August 22, 2023

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By Greenville Police Department 

A man accused of making false threats of mass violence across multiple jurisdictions and counties in eastern North Carolina was convicted and sentenced in court last week.

Allen Hardison III, of Washington, was arrested on Jan. 27, 2022 after a pursuit on U.S. 264 between Greenville and Washington. Investigators determined Hardison used prepaid wireless phones to make numerous threats to schools and government establishments throughout eastern North Carolina. Additionally, the 18 month-long investigation revealed that Hardison took additional measures to conceal his involvement in the crimes. These actions included creating false texts and emails, creating accounts for the phones utilized to commit the bomb threats in the names of other people, and planting evidence in an attempt to frame the other people.

Hardison was a member of the Army National Guard in Rocky Mount, NC and also communicated threats to the unit, posing as his former dating partner. It is believed his former dating partner ended a long-term relationship with him, angering him and likely motivating Hardison to commit the crimes in retaliation.

The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including Greenville Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Washington Police Department, Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office, the Beaufort County District Attorney’s Office and Lenoir County District Attorney’s Office.

On Tuesday, Aug. 15, Allen Hardison III was convicted and sentenced to 19 months active confinement, followed by probation and electronic monitoring in Beaufort County Superior Court, for the following counties pursuant to a global plea agreement. The global agreement means that all charges were settled in one central county. Hardison is also prohibited from possessing a pre-paid wireless phone as a term of his probation. All charges are felonies unless noted as (m) for misdemeanor below:

PITT COUNTY CHARGES:

Flee to Elude Arrest with Motor Vehicle (1/27/2022)

Reckless driving 01/27/2022

(m) Resist, Delay, and Obstruct and Public Officer- (1/27/2022)

False Bomb Threat Public Building- Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office while in Greenville City Limits (1/18/2022)

(m) Domestic Violence Protection Order violation (1/18/2022)

(m) Domestic Violence Protection Order violation (11/29/2022)

(m) Cyberstalking- Texting Threats of mass violence to U.S. Army Reserve Unit in Rocky Mount, NC while in Greenville (1/20/2022)

(m) Cyberstalking- Texting Threats of mass violence to U.S. Army Reserve Unit in Rocky Mount, NC while in Greenville (1/24/2022)

Communicating a Threat of Mass Violence on educational property- J.H. Rose High School on (11/29/2021)

BEAUFORT COUNTY CHARGES:

Making a False Bomb Report to a Public Building- Washington Police Department (1/16/2022)

Making a False Bomb Report to a Public Building- Washington Police Department (1/27/2022)

LENOIR COUNTY CHARGES:

Communicating a False Report of Mass Violence on Educational Prop- North Lenoir High School (11/16/2021)

Communicating a False Report of Mass Violence on Educational Prop- Woodington Middle School (11/22/2021)