Former security guard pleads guilty to bomb threats at ITT

WSLS News Staff

Published: December 17, 2009

A Roanoke man pleaded guilty to making a bomb threat that caused ITT Night Vision Technologies to suffer loses of almost $300,000.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 23-year-old Daniel Hines entered the guilty plea Thursday. Hines was a security guard at ITT in Roanoke when the threat was made.

Officials say a threat was found written in magic marker on the side wall of a bathroom stall in a men’s bathroom on March 7. It read, “IF I LOOSE MY JOB SECURITY IS DEAD.“ Officials say Hines filed a report regarding the threat.

Then on April 21, a handwritten bomb threat was found on the inside of a different stall door of the same restroom, also written in magic marker. It read, “There is a Bomb in Blg 1 & 2. Have Fun.“

After the second threat was reported, both ITT production buildings were evacuated and the production line machinery shut down. The interruption of the production of Department of Defense night vision contracts resulted in the loss of $297,777.67 to ITT.

Officials say Hines confessed to writing both threats on September 21.

Hines faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine up to $250,000.