U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams on Thursday released a list of more than 70 people facing federal charges for crimes he said were committed near or “under the guise of” peaceful demonstrations in Portland since at least May 29.
Oregon’s largest city has been the site of large demonstrations and protests against police use of force and anti-Black racism for 90 straight days and nights following the death of Minnesotan George Floyd.
While most of the daytime demonstrations have been peaceful, the nights have brought vandalism, destruction and violence, according to police and federal officials.
Williams said the violence has typically targeted various public and private buildings, including the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland and the adjacent Multnomah County Justice Center.
Peaceful demonstrators as well as local, state and federal officers have been subject to threats and assaults, Williams said, at the hands of what he termed “violent agitators.”
“Violent agitators have hijacked any semblance of First Amendment protected activity, engaging in violent criminal acts and destruction of public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Williams.
He said his office and its federal law enforcement partners are working with local and state law enforcement to identify, arrest and prosecute those who are “disrupting the rule of law in our communities and physically attacking our law enforcement officers and destroying property.”
“Violent agitators not only delay real reform, but make our community less safe by keeping law enforcement from responding to other critical calls for service,” Williams said.
“The nightly violence has to stop,” agreed Russel Burger, U.S. Marshal for the District of Oregon. “It is drowning out the voices of the many who are calling for change, and pulling police resources away from their primary mission of keeping this community safe.”
“It is vitally important that all Americans have the ability to exercise their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Eben Roberts. “Unfortunately, much of what we’re seeing in Portland is the antithesis of that.
“Instead, tragic events are being used as excuses for individuals with ill intent disguising themselves as activists to commit violent crimes against their communities and law enforcement officers. Progress can only be made if community leaders, law enforcement and the public come together in the name of social change, justice and peace.”
Since May 26, 2020, federal law enforcement authorities have arrested 100 people for crimes committed during local demonstrations. Seventy-four face federal charges, including felonies, misdemeanors, and citation violations.
Crimes include assaults on federal officers, some resulting in serious injuries; arson and attempted arson; damaging federal government property; failing to obey lawful orders; and unlawful use of a drone; among others.
Williams’ list of 74 charged defendants includes:
• Edward Carubis, 24, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 1, 2020;
• Rowan Olsen, 19, is charged (photos available) with creating a hazard on federal property, disorderly conduct, and failing to obey a lawful order on July 2, 2020;
• Shant Singh Ahuja, 28, of Oceanside, California, is charged with destruction of federal property on July 4, 2020;
• Gretchen Blank, 29, of Seattle, Washington, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
• Andrew Faulkner, 24, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
• Christopher Fellini, 31, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
• Theodore Matthee-O’Brien, 21, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
• Cody Porter, 28, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
• Taimane Teo, 24, of Eugene, Oregon, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
• Benjamin Wood-Pavich, 21, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 5, 2020;
• Jacob Gaines, 23, a Texas resident, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on July 11, 2020;
• Lillith Grin, 22, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 12, 2020;
• Benjamin Bolen, 36, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 13, 2020;
• Kevin Weier, 36, is charged with attempted arson on July 13, 2020;
• Wyatt Ash-Milby, 18, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
• Jerusalem Callahan, 24, is charged with damaging government property on July 21, 2020;
• Zachary Duffly, 45, is charged with creating a disturbance on July 21, 2020;
• Caleb Ehlers, 23, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
• Paul Furst, 22, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
• Jennifer Kristiansen, 38, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 21, 2020;
• Ella Miller, 26, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
• Marie Sager, 27, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
• Giovanni Bondurant, 19, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 22, 2020;
• Bailey Dreibelbis, 22, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 21, 2020;
• Gabriel Huston, 22, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 22, 2020;
• Joseph Lagalo, 37, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 22, 2020;
• Taylor Lemons, 32, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 22, 2020;
• Joseph Ybarra, 21, is charged with arson on July 22, 2020;
• David Hazan, 24, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 23, 2020;
• Nicholas Kloiber, 26, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 23, 2020;
• Cameron Knutson, 28, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 23, 2020;
• Carly Ballard, 34, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 24, 2020;
• David Bouchard, 36, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 24, 2020;
• Dakota Eastman, 30, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 24, 2020;
• Josslynn Kreutz, 28, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 24, 2020;
• Ezra Meyers, 18, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 24, 2020;
• Mark Rolycanov, 28, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 24, 2020;
• Pablo Avvocato, 26, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
• Douglas Dean, 34, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
• Rebecca Mota Gonzales, 37, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
• Thomas Johnson, 33, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
• Richard Lindstedt, 33, is charged with violating national defense airspace on July 25, 2020;
• Nathan Onderdonk-Snow, 21, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
• Stephen O’Donnell, 65, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
• Joshua Webb, 22, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 25, 2020;
• Jeffree Cary, 30, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
• John Tyler Gabriel, 22, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
• Noelle Mandolfo, 30, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
• Patrick Stafford, 35, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
• Travis Williams, 27, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
• Caleb Wills, 29, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 26, 2020;
• Brodie Storey, 28, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 27, 2020;
• Edward Schinzing, 32, is charged (photos available) with arson on July 28, 2020;
• James Hickerson, 54, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order on July 28, 2020;
• Ian Wolf, 26, is charged with failing to obey a lawful order and creating a hazard on federal property on July 28, 2020;
• Sabastian Dubar, 23, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 29, 2020;
• Jordan Johnson, 32, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 29, 2020;
• Evan Kriechbaum, 31, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 29, 2020;
• Christine Margaux, 28, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on July 29, 2020;
• Gabriel Agard-Berryhill, 18, is charged (video available) with arson on July 30, 2020;
• Isaiah Maza, 18, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on July 31, 2020;
• Dakotah Horton, 24, is charged (photos available) with assaulting a federal officer on August 17, 2020; and
• Dakota Means, 20, is charged with assaulting a federal officer on August 24, 2020.
Eleven others have been issued citation violations. All defendants, unless noted, are presumed to be local residents.
Several of the charges being used to prosecute violent agitators carry significant maximum prison sentences. For example, felony assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Arson is punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.
While a growing number of conservative officials, commentators and private citizens in Oregon and across the country have decried the violence and destruction in downtown Portland, law enforcement officers themselves have come under fire for their treatment of protesters and journalists.
A beefed up contingent of 100 federal officers was removed from Portland late last month amid concerns over their use of force and claims that they detained suspects in violation of their constitutional rights.
