Published: July 17, 2009 09:25 pm      

Judge hands down stiff sentences in bomb threats

TAZEWELL, Va. — A man charged with making a bomb threat to the Tazewell County Courthouse has been sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Jeffrey Hart, 43, of Amonate, had been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a bomb threat and one count of making a bomb threat in connection with bomb threats to the courthouse in June and September of 2008, Tazewell Police Chief Brian Hieatt said.

Hart was sentenced Thursday by Circuit Court Judge Teresa Chafin to 20 years with one year suspended leaving the man with an active 19 year sentence to serve in a state correctional center.

A second person, Kimberly Keen, 36, of Amonate, who was charged with two counts of making bomb threats, was sentenced by Chafin to 30 years in prison with 23 years suspended leaving an active penitentiary sentence of seven years.

In the sentencing hearing, Chafin said calling in a bomb threat is a serious offense that puts people’s lives at risk, Hieatt said.

At the sentencing hearing, Hieatt said Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Patrick McClintock asked Chafin to consider not only the time that law enforcement and other emergency personnel put into evacuating the courthouse and Main Street, but also the many businesses and courthouse offices that were disrupted each time a threat was called in.

“I think Judge Chaffins did a wonderful job in her sentencing,” Hieatt said. “We are very pleased.”

Hieatt said the bomb threats were made from pay phones at two local fast-food restaurant chains in Tazewell. He said one of the two crimes was caught on video tape by a town surveillance camera.

Hieatt said Hart had a scheduled court appearance on the day of the bomb threat. Hieatt said police believe the bomb threats were made so the man wouldn’t have to appear in court.

Hieatt said officials hope others will realize that making a bomb threat is a serious crime.

Hieatt said the court system has a contingency plan in effect now where court proceedings can continue at alternate locations in the event of future bomb threats.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com