by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports
A federal grand jury indicted a Meridian man for allegedly firing gunshots earlier this summer at two power stations in Hells Canyon, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit said Tuesday.
Randy Scott Vail, 58, is charged with two counts of destruction of an energy facility. The indictment alleges that Vail used a rifle to shoot at the hydroelectric power stations of the Hells Canyon Dam and the Brownlee Dam. Those shots caused damage and “resulted in significant interruption and impairment of a function of the facilities,” according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, included below.
If convicted, Vail could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The two facilities along with the Oxbow Dam make up the Hells Canyon Complex, which accounts for about 70% of Idaho Power’s hydro energy generation and is the largest privately-owned hydro power complex in the country.
“Nobody was injured, thankfully, and we did not experience any customer outages as a result of the incident. Repairs to the damaged equipment at Hells Canyon have been made and both plants are online and generating power,” Idaho Power told Idaho Reports in a June statement following Vail’s arrest.
Washington County Sheriff deputies responded to reports of shots fired at the two dams on June 8. They arrested Vail after pursuing him on U.S. 95 driving a motorcycle at about 80 mph through the 25 mph zone in Cambridge, and allegedly found two rifles, a set of bolt cutters, and canisters that smelled of gasoline in his possession upon arrest.
Meridian Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation also helped execute a search warrant at Vail’s home, according to initial news releases from law enforcement.
He was charged locally at that time with attempting to elude an officer and possession of destructive devices in Washington County, and malicious injury to property in both Washington and Adams counties.
Logan Finney | Associate Producer
Logan Finney is a North Idaho native with a passion for media production and boring government meetings. He grew up skiing, hunting and hiking in the mountains of Bonner County and has maintained a lifelong interest in the state’s geography, history and politics. Logan joined the Idaho Reports team in 2020 as a legislative session intern and stayed to cover the COVID-19 pandemic. He was hired as an associate producer in 2021 and they haven’t been able to get rid of him since.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Idaho Man Indicted on Federal Charges for
Shooting Power Stations at the Hells Canyon and Brownlee Dams
BOISE — U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today that a federal grand jury in Boise returned an indictment charging Randy Scott Vail, 58, of Meridian, Idaho with two counts of destruction of an energy facility, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1366(a).
The indictment alleges that on June 8, 2023, and continuing into June 9, 2023, Vail used a rifle to shoot at the Hells Canyon Dam hydroelectric power station and the Brownlee Dam hydroelectric power station, causing damage to both. The damage resulted in significant interruption and impairment of a function of the facilities. The dams are owned and operated by Idaho Power Company and produce, transmit, store, and distribute electricity to Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.
If convicted, Vail faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, and the Meridian Police Department, which led to the charges. U.S. Attorney Hurwit also thanked the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Adams County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for their collaboration in the prosecution of the defendant.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
