UVA-Wise Student Facing Federal Charges
Bryant Hairston Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint

ABINDGON, VA—The University of Virginia at Wise student who called authorities last week and allegedly lied about seeing an armed man on campus has been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint.

Bryant Alexander Hairston, 20, of Martinsville, Virginia, was charged today in a criminal complaint with one count of knowingly making false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations.

According to the criminal complaint, filed in U.S. District Court today, Hairston called 911 on January 23, 2013, and reported seeing a man on campus with a gun and wearing a face mask. He went on to describe the outfit the man was wearing, his location on the campus, and that he was holding a pistol. As a result of Hariston’s statement, the UVA-Wise campus was placed on lockdown status. The complaint also states that Hairston later admitted to lying about the information given to 911.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virginia State Police, the Wise Police Department, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Pound Police Department, the Coeburn Police Department, and the UVA-Wise Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer will prosecute the case for the United States.

A criminal complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.