A Beaufort County man is facing charges related to an incident that occurred at the Beaufort County Board of Elections on Wednesday.

Joseph Thomas Alligood, 74, of 1330 Mill Hole Road, Washington, in a misdemeanor criminal summons, is charged with interfering with an elections and second-degree criminal trespass. Magistrate J.L. Mills issued the summons. The complainant is Jesse W. Dickinson, an officer with the Washington Police Department.

Alligood was served with the summons at 1:20 p.m. Friday. Alligood’s court date for the summons is Nov. 17.

The summons reads that Alligood “did interfere with the performance of any duty imposed by law upon of an election officer, Scott Sheppard, and Anita Branch by representing he was present to vote knowingly he had previously voted.” That action, according to the summons, violates General Statue 163-274 (A)(3). Violation of that statute is a Class 2 misdemeanor. The state reads that it “shall be unlawful … for any person to break up or by force or violence to stay or interfere with the holding of any primary or election, to interfere with the possession of any ballot box, election book, ballot, or return sheet by those entitled to possession of the same under the law, or to interfere in any manner with the performance of any duty imposed by law upon any election officer or member of any board of elections.

Meanwhile, Patrick Gannon, public-information office with the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said investigators with the state board are looking into the incident. Gannon provided information regarding General Statue 163-275, which makes certain acts felonies, including a person who “by threats, menaces or in any other manner, to intimidate or attempt to intimidate any chief judge, judge of election or other election officer in the discharge of duties in the registration of voters or in conducting any primary or election” is guilty of a Class I felony. Also, it is unlawful any person to assault any chief judge, judge of election or other election officer while in discharge of duties in the registration of voters or in conducting any primary or election.”

The trespassing charge stems from Alligood’s refusal to leave the board’s office after being notified “not to enter or remain there” by Kellie Harris Hopkins, the county’s elections director, according to the summons.

 

 

 

 

 

Interviewed Thursday about the incident Wednesday, Alligood said he wanted to “test” the system by attempting to vote twice. He denies threatening elections officials. “If that lady had handed me the ballot, that’s when I was going to say something, because I didn’t intend to vote the second time. I was testing the system,” he said.

Upon advice of the state board, Beaufort County elections officials are not commenting on the incident at this time.