Washington man accused of causing $105k in damage to Oregon energy plants in 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man has been accused of causing $105,000 of combined damage to two Oregon energy plants in 2022.

According to the Department of Justice, 33-year-old Tacoma, Washington resident Zachary Rosenthal faces charges that include three counts of damaging an energy facility.

"On November 24 and 28, 2022, Rosenthal is accused of knowingly and willfully damaging two energy facilities—the Ostrander Substation in Oregon City, Oregon and the Sunnyside Substation in Clackamas, Oregon—with the intent of interrupting or impairing the function of both facilities. The indictment further alleges that Rosenthal caused damages exceeding $100,000 to the Ostrander Substation and $5,000 to the Sunnyside Substation. Both facilities are involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity," the DOJ said.

Additionally, a second indictment was also unsealed, charging Rosenthal with stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee and illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

"According to this indictment, in January 2023, Rosenthal is alleged to have stolen 24 firearms he was restricted from possessing from a federal firearms licensee in the Portland area," officials said.

Rosenthal made his first appearance in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

An alleged accomplice, 30-year-old Nathaniel Adam Cheney of Centralia, Washington, was also named in the Sunnyside Substation incident in 2022, which caused $5,000 worth of damage. Cheney made an appearance in federal court on April 10 and pleaded not guilty. He was released pending a two-day jury trial set for August 20.

Damaging an energy facility and causing more than $100K in damages is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, according to the DOJ.