Suspected Bomb Threat at Carteret County Courthouse Leads to Arrest of Defendant Attempting to Evade Scheduled Hearing

Justin Miller allegedly called in a bomb threat to the Carteret County Courthouse to dodge his hearing. Read about his arrest and the new felony charges here.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 3, 2026, 7:36 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Charlotte Observer

A Morning of Disruption at the Carteret County Courthouse

The Carteret County Courthouse in Beaufort was forced into an emergency lockdown and subsequent evacuation early Tuesday morning following a telephoned bomb threat. According to the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office, an unidentified caller contacted the clerk’s office claiming that an explosive device had been planted within the judicial complex. Law enforcement officials immediately cleared the building of all personnel, including judges, attorneys, and members of the public, as a specialized bomb squad and K9 units were deployed to sweep the premises for potential hazards. The disruption caused significant delays in the day’s judicial calendar, with several high profile hearings being put on hold while the facility was secured.

Investigation Traces Communication to Scheduled Defendant

As the physical sweep of the courthouse was underway, digital forensic investigators worked to identify the origin of the threatening call. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the call was quickly traced to a mobile device belonging to 32 year old Justin Miller. Records indicated that Miller was scheduled to appear in court that very morning for a series of unrelated misdemeanor charges. Authorities allege that Miller made the threat specifically to cause a disruption that would force the closure of the building, thereby providing him a temporary reprieve from his legal obligations. The plan was deemed unsuccessful as investigators were able to confirm Miller’s involvement within hours of the initial threat.

Tactical Arrest and New Felony Charges

Deputies located Miller at a nearby residence shortly after the courthouse was cleared of any explosive devices. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Carteret County Jail. Miller now faces a significant escalation in his legal troubles, having been charged with one felony count of making a false report concerning a destructive device and one count of communicating a threat. These new charges carry substantially heavier penalties than the original misdemeanors he was attempting to avoid. A magistrate set Miller’s bond at $100,000, and he is now awaiting a new court date one he will be required to attend under the supervision of jail personnel.