This month, news broke in Pennsylvania that a former security guard threatened violence at the Little League World Series. According to police reports, this guard texted his supervisor saying, “You guys better have heavy security… because I will be back.” He later posted a countdown to a “Mass Casualty Event” on social media, tagging Little League, ESPN, and his employer.
He was arrested, charged with eight felony counts of terroristic threats, and jailed in Lycoming County, PA.
This case highlights a critical point in background screening: where and when new charges appear makes all the difference.
Where Does a Case Like This Show Up?
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County Court Records (Fastest: Same Day to 48 Hours)
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Charges are filed first at the county level.
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In this case, the Lycoming County court docket would be the earliest and most reliable source.
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State Repository (Slower: 1–4 Weeks)
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Pennsylvania’s state police system updates after courts report new cases.
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That lag means a statewide search might miss brand-new charges for weeks.
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National Criminal Database (Slowest: 1–3+ Months)
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National checks aggregate state and county data.
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Updates trickle in on scheduled intervals, sometimes months later.
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Incarceration Records (Immediate but Limited)
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Jails often publish rosters the same day.
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Unless you’re running incarceration monitoring, this won’t automatically appear in a traditional background check.
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Why This Matters for Employers
If this guard had applied for a new security role two weeks later, a national database search alone might not have flagged his pending felony charges. Only a county-level search or continuous monitoring would have surfaced the threat in time.
For employers who require background screening, that gap could expose your organization to real risk.
The Better Way to Screen
At Sure Check, we recommend a layered approach:
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County Searches for accuracy and speed.
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Statewide Checks to broaden coverage.
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National Database Searches as a supplement, not a substitute.
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Continuous Monitoring to catch new charges in near real-time.
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Optional Social Media Screening to surface red flags before they escalate.
The Takeaway
Background checks are only as strong as the sources behind them. Employers who rely solely on national checks may be left blind to critical information.
This real-world case is a reminder: if you want a clear picture of who you’re hiring you need more than a quick national search.
With Sure Check, you get local accuracy, statewide reach, and ongoing protection in one package.