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Press Release from Herb Crawford, District Attorney, Coweta Judicial Circuit

On September 11, 2024, in the Superior Court of Troup County, Hunter Blake Harrington, now 24, pleaded guilty to six violations of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, one count of Possession of a Sawed-off Shotgun, one count of Possession of a Sawed-off Rifle, and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Silencer.

In accordance with a negotiated plea agreement, Coweta Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Markette Baker sentenced Harrington to 40 years, with the first 15 years to be served in prison. Harrington entered “best interest” guilty pleas to the Street Gang Act violations, which meant he pleaded guilty without admitting guilt. Chief Assistant District Attorney Jack Winne prosecuted the case.

Troup County Sheriff’s Office Investigator James Robson led the investigation, which revealed the following. On October 24, 2022, a concerned citizen who was acquainted with Harrington made a report to the Troup County Sheriff’s Office expressing concern about Harrington’s potential danger to others and his erratic behavior. The citizen informed law enforcement that Harrington possessed illegal weapons, was infatuated with mass killers, and was identified as a member of the Atomwaffen Division, a violent Neo-Nazi hate group and a domestic terrorist organization. Investigators soon learned that, at the time of the report, Harrington had been involuntarily committed as a danger to himself and others.

During a search of Harrington’s apartment, investigators seized a safe. Because investigators suspected that the safe might contain explosives, they decided to employ their own explosives in a controlled environment to break it. Inside the safe were identifiable remains of a sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, several illegal silencers, and materials investigators suspected might be possessed to manufacture an explosive device. Harrington also possessed at least five legal firearms. Subsequent investigation also revealed

Harrington had paraphernalia distinct to the Atomwaffen Division and also possessed Atomwaffen Division-specific writings. Under Georgia law, “‘Criminal street gang’ means any organization, association, or group of three or more persons associated in fact, whether formal or informal, which engages in [criminal offenses enumerated as] criminal gang activity.”

The evidence would have shown that the Atomwaffen Division is a criminal street gang, that Harrington’s illegal weapons possession was connected to the gang’s activities, and that his crimes were consistent with the expectations the gang places upon its members. Criminal street gangs come in many forms, but in all cases they commit crimes, often violent crimes with firearms, to benefit their organization. I am thankful that this neo-nazi was caught and imprisoned under Georgia’s Gang Act before he used his illegal firearms to harm someone. This is the second white supremacist convicted and sentenced to multiple years in prison under the Gang Act by our office. The first being Christopher Copson, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood on September 24, 2018 in Meriwether County Superior Court Case No. 18-CR-098.