A Tacoma, Washington man is now facing federal charges for his alleged role in damaging two Portland area energy facilities, the Department of Justice reported. Zachary Rosenthal, 33, could potentially spend decades behind bars, with an indictment accusing him of willfully causing harm to vital utility infrastructure.
Specifically, on November 24 and 28, 2022, Rosenthal is said to have intended to "knowingly and willfully damage" two substations – the Ostrander in Oregon City, Oregon, and the Sunnyside in Clackamas, Oregon. The indictment lays out that these alleged acts were part of an effort to "interrupt or impair" the operations of both facilities. He is also accused of inflicting over $100,000 in damages at the Ostrander Substation and more than $5,000 at Sunnyside, as per the details shared by the Department of Justice.
Rosenthal's legal troubles don't end there. A secondary indictment has come to light charging him with the January 2023 theft of firearms from a federal firearms dealer, an act he was legally barred from due to his status as a felon. An accomplice, Nathaniel Adam Cheney, 30, of Centralia, Washington, is also facing charges relating to the Sunnyside Substation incident on November 28.
Rosenthal's day in court has already begun, with an arraignment where he pleaded not guilty to the charges levied against him and is being detained pending further proceedings. Cheney also appeared before a federal court on April 10, pled not guilty, and was released on conditions. His trial is scheduled to kick off on August 20, 2024. According to the penalty framework, the damages at the energy facilities could lead to up to 20 years in federal prison if the damages surpass $100,000 and up to five years for damages over $5,000.
The investigation was carried out cooperatively by the FBI, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). With Assistant U.S. Attorney Parakram Singh prosecuting for the District of Oregon, the stark reminder remains that these indictments represent only accusations, and the defendants maintain their innocence until proven otherwise.
