Randy Scott Vail, 59, of Meridian, Idaho, has pleaded guilty to destruction of an energy facility in Idaho, according to U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit.
Court records reveal that on June 8, 2023, and continuing into June 9, 2023, Vail shot at the Hells Canyon Dam hydroelectric power station and the Brownlee Dam hydroelectric power station, causing power loss and substantial damage to both.
Hells Canyon Dam and Brownlee Dam are located on the Snake River along the Idaho-Oregon border and were built and are operated by Idaho Power Company. The dams are essential to electricity production, transmission and storage in Washington, Idaho and Oregon. The stations are part of the Hells Canyon complex, which provides about 40% of Idaho Power’s total electricity, according to company data. Its three powerhouses are 585.4 MW Brownlee, 190 MW Oxbow and 391 MW Hells Canyon.
In the late-night hours of June 8, Vail arrived on top of Hells Canyon Dam via motorcycle, loaded a rifle with ammunition and discharged the rifle, shooting at the power substations. As a result, power loss occurred at Hells Canyon Dam. About one hour later, on June 9, Vail arrived via motorcycle at Brownlee Dam. Vail again loaded a rifle with ammunition and shot at the power substations. As a result, large plumes of sparks were visible in the switch yard of the power plant.
About 45 minutes after Vail shot the Brownlee Dam power substations, a sheriff deputy encountered Vail on a motorcycle on Highway 71 traveling south towards Cambridge, Idaho. Law enforcement initiated emergency lights and sirens, but Vail failed to yield and increased speed. After about 3 miles, Vail yielded to lights and sirens was taken into custody. During a search and inventory of Vail and the motorcycle, law enforcement located bolt cutters, a guitar case housing two rifles, and live and spent ammunition. Vail also was carrying two yellow compressed air tanks with gasoline with the pressure gauge missing.
Damage and loss to the hydroelectric power stations was at least $546,982.46. In addition, the loss in power production at both facilities reduced capacity for Idaho Power, reducing power capacity in Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and thus caused a significant interruption and impairment of the function of the energy facilities.
Vail is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
