PORTLAND, Ore.—In separate criminal cases, two Portland area residents are facing federal charges for crimes committed during recent riots near local federal facilities, including the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Portland Field Office.
Richard Timothy Hernandez, 56, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with three counts of destruction of government property. Rowan McManigal, 19, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, has been charged with conveying false or misleading information about possessing incendiary chemical agents on federal property.
U.S. v. Hernandez
According to court documents, federal investigators obtained evidence showing that, during three separate riots, Hernandez broke more than a dozen windows at the Hatfield Courthouse and ICE Portland Field Office. In the early morning hours of March 14, 2021, Hernandez and others threw 13 objects at Hatfield Courthouse windows, causing more than $143,000 in damage. On March 20 and April 29, 2021, Hernandez threw a total of 74 rocks at ICE Portland Field Office windows, causing more than $21,000 in damage.
U.S. v. McManigal
According to court documents, on December 19, 2020, a group of approximately 30 people gathered at the ICE Portland Field Office and proceeded to vandalize the facility. During the gathering, an individual later identified as McManigal was seen pulling the wiring from the building’s card reader and intercom. McManigal stood in a walkway in front of the building’s main entrance for several minutes before their arrest. A search of McManigal’s belongings returned a hoax explosive device with a hand-drawn hazmat placard. McManigal later confessed the device contained water and that “it was meant to waste people’s time” if they were arrested.
Both defendants made their initial appearances in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and were released pending further court proceedings.
Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.
These cases are being investigated by ICE and the Federal Protective Service and prosecuted by Gregory R. Nyhus, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.