A Centralia man has pleaded guilty to damaging the Sunnyside electrical substation in Clackamas County, an incident federal prosecutors say caused approximately $26,000 in damage and raised concerns about infrastructure security across the region. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, Nathaniel Cheney admitted on November 5, 2025, to one count of damaging an energy facility for his role in the November 28, 2022, break‑in at the Portland General Electric‑operated site. The confirmation was outlined in a federal update detailed in a Department of Justice statement.

Federal court documents show that Cheney and at least one accomplice entered the fenced perimeter and damaged critical control equipment essential to the substation’s operation. Additional reporting by regional outlets, including Right Now Oregon and the Lynnwood Times, corroborates that the vandalism targeted circuit breakers and monitoring systems. Cheney was previously indicted by a federal grand jury on March 12, 2024, and his plea agreement includes full restitution.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2026, before a U.S. District Court judge. Under federal statute, Cheney faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Why This Matters for Southwest Washington

Centralia sits less than an hour north of Cowlitz County, and security issues involving regional energy infrastructure carry implications for communities across the I‑5 corridor. Substation incidents elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest have previously disrupted service and heightened calls for improved grid protections. While prosecutors have not attributed a specific motive to Cheney, the case fits into a broader federal effort to address attacks on critical infrastructure.

Sources

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon: Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Damaging Energy Facility

Right Now Oregon: Centralia Man Pleads Guilty to Damaging Clackamas County Energy Facility

Lynnwood Times: Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Damaging Energy Facility