Current:Home > MyA Washington man pleads not guilty in connection with 2022 attacks on an Oregon electrical grid -Wealth Axis Pro
A Washington man pleads not guilty in connection with 2022 attacks on an Oregon electrical grid
View
Date:2025-04-18 01:07:30
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Washington state man has pleaded not guilty to federal charges accusing him of damaging power substations in Oregon in 2022.
Nathaniel Cheney appeared in federal court in Portland on Wednesday and was later released from custody, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported. He was arrested April 2 after he was indicted in March on two counts of damage to an energy facility.
Charging documents allege Cheney broke into the Ostrander substation in Oregon City on Nov. 24, 2022, and “knowingly and willfully damaged” the Sunnyside Substation in Clackamas four days later.
At the Oregon City substation, Cheney and an unidentified accomplice are accused of cutting a perimeter fence and shooting at pieces of equipment, according to a Bonneville Power Administration security memo sent to law enforcement after the vandalism.
In early 2022, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report warned that domestic extremists had been developing “credible, specific plans” to attack electricity infrastructure since at least 2020 in part, a federal law enforcement official said, because outages may result in frustration and divisions within American society.
Vandalism at three power substations in western Washington in December 2022 cut power to thousands of utility customers, while a fourth substation was vandalized on Christmas Day, also cutting electricity for thousands. In all four cases, someone forced their way into the fenced area surrounding the substations and damaged equipment to cause power outages, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said at the time.
Prosecutors have said in the Christmas Day attack the two men who pleaded guilty wanted to cut power to break into ATMs and businesses and steal money.
Two power substations in North Carolina were also damaged in December 2022 by gunfire that took nearly a week to repair and left tens of thousands of people without electricity. A bill was signed into law in North Carolina last year that increases punishments for intentionally damaging utility equipment.
Law enforcement has not suggested or provided evidence that any of the cases are directly connected and investigators have not specified a motive for the substation vandalism in Oregon.
veryGood! (49)
Related
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Get an Extra 50% off GAP’s Best Basics Just in Time for Spring, With Deals Starting at $10
- Teaching refugee women to drive goes farther than their destination
- Watch: Travis Kelce chugs beer before getting Cincinnati diploma at live 'New Heights' show
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Why Kyle Richards Needs a Break From RHOBH Following Mauricio Umansky Split
- Drake dismissed from Astroworld lawsuit following deadly 2021 music festival
- Teaching refugee women to drive goes farther than their destination
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Biden is canceling $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers. Here's who is eligible.
Ranking
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Former US ambassador sentenced to 15 years in prison for serving as secret agent for Cuba
- Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow that went viral, caused mayhem is set to debut in the US
- Maine lawmakers approve shield law for providers of abortion and gender-affirming care
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Biden heads to his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to talk about taxes
- Colorado group says it has enough signatures for abortion rights ballot measure this fall
- Thousands of zipline kits sold on Amazon recalled due to fall hazard, 9 injuries reported
Recommendation
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Man charged in slaying after woman’s leg found at Milwaukee-area park
Thousands of zipline kits sold on Amazon recalled due to fall hazard, 9 injuries reported
Michael Douglas bets a benjamin on 'Franklin' TV series: How actor turned Founding Father
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Prince William and Prince George Seen in First Joint Outing Since Kate Middleton Shared Cancer Diagnosis
World reacts to O.J. Simpson's death, from lawyers and victim's relatives to sports stars and celebrities
Who won the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot in Oregon? We might know soon. Here's why.