District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced that a Waynesville man pleaded guilty this week to calling in a bomb threat last spring that forced authorities to evacuate Haywood County Justice Center.
Superior Court Judge William Long sentenced Cody Blake Strickler, 33, to serve a minimum of five years active, up to a maximum of seven years, in N.C. Division of Adult Corrections.
Strickler, 33, called 911 dispatch on March 19, saying: “The emergency is at the courthouse, the new one, there’s a bomb, C4, sausage links on detonators remote switches, you need to evacuate the courthouse now.”
In response, authorities asked that people in both superior and district courts and building office workers and visitors leave immediately.
The Justice Center and Main Street were cordoned off. A handler with a K9 trained in explosive detection systematically swept the courthouse to ensure there was no bomb.
Court resumed after the building was cleared as safe.
Strickler also was designated a habitual felon. Assistant district attorney Jeff Jones, who prosecuted the case, entered evidence that resulted in the habitual felon designation.
This is North Carolina’s version of three strikes and you’re out. The designation acts as a sentence enhancer.
Haywood County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Matt Miller led the investigation. Waynesville Police Department helped cordon off the street and building.