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Press Release

Phoenix Man Sentenced to Prison for Threatening Arizona Justice of the Peace on Facebook

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Harry Alexander Knight, 54, of Phoenix, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Knight previously pleaded guilty to transmitting an interstate communication containing a threat to injure another person. 

In 2018, Knight was ordered by the victim, an Arizona Justice of the Peace, to wear an ankle monitor in connection with pending criminal charges. Knight subsequently cut off his ankle monitor and fled to the State of Washington. Once there, Knight posted a communication on a publicly available Facebook page threatening to physically injure the victim. FBI agents ultimately apprehended Knight in California, at which time he was returned to the District of Arizona to face charges.     

“Freedom of speech is a fundamental right,” observed U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino, “but it is not without its limits. Those who weaponize the internet by posting online communications threatening others with physical harm remain subject to prosecution.” 

During his period of supervised release, Knight will be prohibited from contacting his victims and will have his internet usage monitored by the probation officer.

The FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Keller and William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

 

CASE NUMBER:           CR-10-00176-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER:    2022- 060_Knight

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Updated May 4, 2022

Topic
National Security
Press Release Number: 2022-060_Knight