Portland, OR. —A Centralia, Washington, man pleaded guilty Tuesday to damaging a Portland-area energy facility.
Nathaniel Cheney, 31, admitted to one count of damaging an energy facility, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Court documents show that on November 28, 2022, Cheney and others caused approximately $26,000 in damage to the Sunnyside substation in Clackamas, Oregon, by damaging critical control equipment necessary for its operation.
A federal grand jury in Portland indicted Cheney on March 12, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.
As part of his plea agreement, Cheney has agreed to pay full restitution as recommended by the government.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Parakram Singh and Geoffrey Barrow for the District of Oregon.
About the Author
