Former OU administrator charged with terrorism threat

A former Ohio University employee whose job was cut earlier this year was arrested late Wednesday and charged with making a terrorist threat, after he allegedly told a former co-worker that he was "angry enough to come shoot people at the HDL Center or Human Resources" at OU, according to a criminal complaint.

Mark K. Hopton, 48, who oversaw shared services at OU before learning April 1 that his job had been eliminated, is charged with a third-degree felony.

He was released after posting $10,000 bond, after being arrested at his Liars Corner Road home in Millfield Wednesday.

His last day on the job was June 30, according to OU. An Athens County Municipal Court judge has ordered Hopton to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, and to have no contact with OU or any of its employees. A number of firearms have been seized from Hopton's home, according to court documents.

The affidavit for the search warrant in the case states that on Tuesday, an OU employee, who had known Hopton for "quite some time," called him on the phone, after getting a text message from Hopton asking how the employee was doing.

When the two spoke on the phone, the affidavit says, according to the co-worker Hopton reported that he had not yet found a new job, "that he had numerous interviews that did not work out, and his tenants had not been paying their rent in a timely fashion. Hopton then told the employee he was angry enough to come in and start shooting people at either the HDL Center, or the Human Resources Facility. The employee initially took this statement as a joke and tried to divert the conversation when Hopton then told him, 'No, I am serious, I had the guns loaded yesterday.' The employee reported Hopton then made the same statement a second time, which then caused the employee to feel Hopton was serious and does intend to in fact carry out the act."

A news release from the OU Police states that after the ex-coworker reported the alleged threat, officers secured both of the Union Street buildings Hopton had mentioned the HDL Center and the Human Resources Training Center then sought and obtained search and arrest warrants, which were executed with help from the Athens County Sheriff's office.

"My guys made the entry" to Hopton's home, confirmed Sheriff Pat Kelly Thursday.

Hopton was arrested without incident, the OUPD release said.

An inventory of items seized in the search included 14 firearms including rifles and shotguns, as well as ammunition.

As of the time of the OUPD press release shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday, officers were still guarding the OU buildings, the release said.

A preliminary hearing in Municipal Court in the case is set for Nov. 5.