Randy Scott Vail: Photo, charges and other details of Idaho man indicted for allegedly shooting rifle at hydroelectric power stations

Randy Scott Vail, a 58-year-old man from Meridian, Idaho, has been formally charged by federal prosecutors for his alleged involvement in firing a rifle at two hydroelectric power stations situated along the border between Idaho and Oregon.

The destructive actions occurred in early June, leading to damages inflicted upon both facilities.

As a result of these incidents, Vail is now confronted with two charges of damaging an energy facility, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

“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 attorney’s office said in a statement. 

“The damage resulted in significant interruption and impairment of a function of the facilities,” the statement added. “The dams are owned and operated by Idaho Power Company and produce, transmit, store, and distribute electricity to Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.” 

In court documents, a Washington County deputy said he was called to the area of the Brownlee Dam around 12:30 a.m. on June 9 to investigate a report of a man on a white motorcycle firing shots at that dam and at the Hells Canyon Dam, according to KTVB.

The station, citing a probable cause affidavit, reported that the deputy and a colleague then spotted the motorcycle heading east on Highway 71 and gave chase.

At one point during the pursuit, Vail, according to police and court documents, was allegedly traveling 80 mph in a 25-mph zone, KTVB also reported.

When Vail was brought to a stop, the deputy wrote in the affidavit that he was found carrying a pair of bolt cutters, two tire-repair cans “full of what smelled like gasoline” and a case containing two rifles, the station says.

The shootings in total caused more than $100,000 in damage, The Associated Press reports, citing an indictment.

Federal prosecutors say if convicted, Vail faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.