BOISE, Idaho — A Meridian man pleaded guilty to destruction of a energy facility after he shot at two Idaho Power hydroelectric power stations, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced Friday.
Randy Scott Vail, 59, was reported to have shot at the Hells Canyon Dam hydroelectric power station and the Brownlee Damn hydropower station in June 2022. A news release said the shootings resulted in power loss and damage to both structures.
According to court records, Vail drove his motorcycle to Hells Canyon late on the night of June 8, 2022. He had a loaded rifle, then he shot at the power substation. That resulted in power loss.
About an hour later, Vail arrived at the Brownlee Dam, where he again loaded the rifle and shot the dam's power substation. The U.S. Attorney's Office said large plumes of sparks were visible in the switch yard of the power plant.
About 45 minutes after the Brownlee Dam shooting, a sheriff's deputy encountered Vail on the motorcycle on Highway 71 traveling south to Cambridge. After a three-mile pursuit, Vail pulled over and was taken into custody.
During the search and inventory of Vail's items, police found bolt cutters, a guitar case with two rifles, and live and spent ammunition. He also had two yellow compressed air tanks with gasoline, with the pressure gauge missing, according to Friday's news release.
The estimated cost to the damage done was at least $546,982.46. It caused a significant interruption to energy facilities, with the loss of power production at both facilities leaving a reduced capacity for Idaho Power.
After his guilty plea, Vail is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5 and faces the maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
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