A man from Centralia, Washington, has pleaded guilty to damaging an energy facility in the Portland area. Nathaniel Cheney, 31, admitted to one count of damaging an energy facility.
Court documents show that on November 28, 2022, Cheney and others caused $26,000 in damage to the Sunnyside substation located in Clackamas, Oregon. The group damaged control equipment necessary for the substation's operation.
On March 12, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted Cheney on charges related to the incident.
Cheney could face up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, 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 investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Parakram Singh and Geoffrey Barrow, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
