Georgia man pleads guilty to threatening schools in 2 states
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Georgia man has pleaded guilty to threatening to attack schools in east Alabama and west Georgia with firearms and explosives.
Levi Calhoun III, 28, of of Georgetown, Georgia, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court to threatening schools and conveying false information, news outlets reported Wednesday.
Making threats carries up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and the false information charge up to 5 years and $250,000. However, as part of the plea agreement, federal prosecutors asked the judge to keep his sentence as low as possible within federal guidelines, and said they would also ask for a reduction in the sentencing level set by the judge if Calhoun continues to accept responsibility.
Calhoun created a fake Facebook account with another user’s photographs to make the threats on Nov. 7, 2018, against schools in Eufala, Alabama, and Quitman County, Georgia, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney and FBI in Montgomery, Alabama.
U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin Sr. and FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell said the user whose pictures were taken was greatly distressed when agents called, but they quickly traced the account to Calhoun.
He was indicted in March 2019.
A sentencing date has not been set.