For The Record

Attacks on power substations elsewhere spur Georgia House to stiffen penalties for infrastructure sabotage

By: - March 2, 2023 1:01 pm

Georgia lawmakers are considering tougher penalties for attacks on power substations and any other “vital public service.” Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

House lawmakers have approved extra prison time for anyone who intentionally attacks – physically or electronically – a utility substation or any other “vital public service.”

The bill, sponsored by Elberton Republican Rep. Rob Leverett, could mean as much as an additional 10 years in prison if a prosecutor can prove the attack was carried out intentionally.

The proposal comes on the heels of attacks on critical infrastructure in other states, such as when someone shot up two Duke Energy substations in North Carolina in December that knocked out power to about 45,000 people.

“Apparently, some people have decided that it’s open season on critical infrastructure for our utilities, and they’re using that for whatever reason,” he said.

His proposal is meant to create a mid-range offense for cases where the offender is not attempting an act of domestic terrorism. If someone intentionally damages critical infrastructure with violence or electronically, they can be charged with a special category of first-degree criminal property damage and receive an additional prison sentence of two to 10 years.

“I feel like this is necessary at this point to send a message to those who would try to damage vital infrastructure, which can have such a more far-ranging impact than just simply damaging a piece of property,” Leverett said. “If you damage the utility’s truck depot, well that’s bad but that generally isn’t going to put 45,000 people in the dark and absolute cold during the week before Christmas.”

The bill easily cleared the House Thursday, though one Democrat voiced some reservation about the proposed penalty when compared to others – including increased fines and prison time for burning a police car and rioting that cleared in the House Wednesday.

“I would just like to point out that this is a minimum of two years sentencing. For arson of a police car is the minimum of five years sentencing. For two or more people to do a riot, it’s a minimum of five years sentencing, and aggravated assault with the intent to rape is one year,” said Rep. Mesha Mainor, an Atlanta Democrat.

Leverett’s bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. 

Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.

Jill Nolin
Jill Nolin

Jill Nolin has spent nearly 15 years reporting on state and local government in four states, focusing on policy and political stories and tracking public spending. She has spent the last five years chasing stories in the halls of Georgia’s Gold Dome, earning recognition for her work showing the impact of rising opioid addiction on the state’s rural communities. She is a graduate of Troy University.

MORE FROM AUTHOR