Man Gets Federal Prison Sentence For Hoax Bomb Meant To Disrupt Courthouse Proceedings

Two men behind a hoax bomb planted at the Deschutes County Courthouse in July 2019 were dealt separate sentences after they tried to disrupt court proceedings in Bend.

The two men were identified as Kellie Kent Cameron and Jonathan Tyler Allen. Court documents show that the two tried to shut down the Deschutes County Courthouse on or about July 28 to July 29 of last year by planning the fake bomb and calling in a bomb threat.

It was Cameron who constructed the fake bomb using batteries, wiring, a circuit board and a fuel filter among others. Both drove to the courthouse in the early morning of July 29 and placed the hoax device at a ramp near the building.

Cameron was also the one who made the 911 call and said to the operator: “I just want to let you know that there are two bombs. One’s in the courthouse -- and good luck finding the other one.”

An hour later, he would call 911 once more to repeat the threat, this time sounding more urgent and used profane language.

As a result of the said threat, the courthouse, as well as some nearby business establishments, had to shut down and evacuate the area First responders rushed to the scene to investigate the threat.

When the device was found, a bomb squad using different techniques to disable the bomb to prevent an explosion. After dismantling it, they later discovered that it was a hoax.

Both were charged on Aug. 7, 2019, by criminal complaint with conspiring to make a threat to damage property and conveying false information and hoaxes. Cameron pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $43,620.18 to the courthouse and other establishments around the area, KTVZ reported.

Allen, who also pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $43,620 in restitution in another report from KTVZ.

“Constructing a hoax bomb and threatening to blow up a courthouse to interfere with a judicial proceeding, is beyond reprehensible,” U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said. “Courthouses are the very symbol of justice, safety and fairness in a functioning society, and this unconscionable act not only caused fear, panic and disruption in this community, it jeopardized their sense of safety.”