A Meridian man who shot and damaged two hydroelectric dams in Idaho nearly a year ago was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution to Idaho’s largest utility.
District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Randy Vail, 59, to five years of probation and ordered him to pay nearly $550,000 to Idaho Power for damaging his equipment, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho.
Last June, Vail rode his motorcycle to the top of Hells Canyon Dam late at night and fired a gun at electrical substations. An hour later he did the same at Brownlee Dam. Idaho Power said the shootings caused a brief power outage and damaged equipment.
After the shooting, Vail fled from Washington County sheriff’s deputies as they tried to apprehend him. Charges in connection with that incident were dropped to avoid double prosecution on the same charges, state officials told the Idaho Statesman.
Vail initially faced two counts of destruction of an energy facility. He pleaded guilty to one charge in March, while the second was dismissed at the prosecutor’s request. Each defendant was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Vail’s actions were motivated by “anti-law enforcement and anti-government sentiments,” the news release said. While Vail was incarcerated, he told his loved ones that the government was “illegitimate” and said he did not recognize the authority of judges, sheriffs, the governor or the federal government, the news release said. Vail’s statements were made to family members during recorded conversations.
“In Vail’s own words, he wanted to ‘make a statement’ and stated that ‘we need a revolution or a civil war,'” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit said in the news release that Vail’s actions endanger power supplies. He clarified that Vail was being prosecuted because of his illegal conduct, and not because of his beliefs, which officials said stemmed in part from reading and viewing online conspiracy theories and anti-government propaganda.
“This case shows that our way of life is threatened when people begin to believe that ideology can somehow justify violence,” Hurwit said. “That never happens.”
Substations in North Carolina, Washington and Oregon were damaged by attacks last year. At one point, the Department of Homeland Security warned in a bulletin that “domestic violent extremists” have viewed targeting power and communications infrastructure “as a means to create chaos and advance ideological goals.”
