Man charged in prosecutor threats

A Midlothian man who was charged last spring with trying to extort money from Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell is now accused of threatening the life of Colonial Heights' lead prosecutor over three traffic offenses.

Robert Alvin Harmon, 43, of the 3100 block of South Ridge Drive has been charged in Colonial Heights with sending two letters late last year to Commonwealth's Attorney William B. Bray that threatened violence or death if the state didn't agree to his demands, police said.

"He basically used a threat of violence to force the commonwealth to do what he wants to do," said Colonial Heights police Lt. Dann Ferguson. "And based on those letters, we took warrants out [against him] for intent to commit an act of terrorism, because he's threatening the government" through Bray.

Police said Harmon sent letters addressed to Bray on Nov. 25 and Dec. 12, which came several weeks after Harmon was convicted in Colonial Heights Circuit Court of three traffic offenses, which he had appealed from General District Court.

Harmon was found guilty Oct. 28 of driving on a suspended license, having an expired vehicle registration and having an expired safety inspection. He was fined $400 and lost his driving privileges for 60 days.

"I don't want to live in a world with silly laws made by silly, self-serving politicians," Ferguson quoted Harmon as saying in the letter dated Nov. 25. "And your law won't let me out."

Ferguson said Harmon added: "I'm not going to obey what you consider a law unless it's convenient. And if you force me into a corner, I have the capacity to hurt other people. And it does not require driving."

Harmon also "requested the termination of his life by the commonwealth," Ferguson said.

In the second letter dated Dec. 12, Ferguson said, Harmon wrote that his course of action would depend on how the commonwealth responded to his demands.

"He said he can compete or cooperate," Ferguson said, reading from the letter. "When he cooperates, he goes to jail. He said when [he competes], someone will die, and that time was running out."

Bray has recused himself from handling the matter. Prince George County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Eric J. Livingston has been appointed as special prosecutor in the case. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 23.

Harmon, who court records indicate has been unemployed since 2007, was charged last April in Chesterfield County with trying to extort money from the state attorney general.

According to court records, the matter involved Harmon's attempt to force the state to enter into a software licensing agreement that Harmon described as the "results of my life work."

County prosecutors withdrew the charge July 9, although it wasn't immediately clear why. Harmon's court file contains another letter written to then-U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, which threatened violence if Virginia officials didn't respond to his business proposal by April 15.

"I will use whatever methods are at my disposal to render an acceptable outcome, per my licensing agreement," Harmon wrote. "This will include the most modern tactics available (terrorism) against the commonwealth."

He closed with this warning: "Please take the time to inform the commonwealth of Virginia that I am deadly serious and it will be in their best interest to respond before my deadline. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect society and a happy ending is not always available."

Contact Mark Bowes at (804) 649-6450 or .