Bend man gets 21-month federal prison term for courthouse hoax bomb

'Beyond reprehensible,' U.S. attorney says; 2nd man serving similar term

EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend man was sentenced Tuesday to 21 months in federal prison for crafting a hoax bomb and phoning in a threat to blow up the Deschutes County Courthouse in July of last year, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said.

Kellie Kent Cameron, 32 also was sentenced to three years’ supervised release and was ordered to pay $43,620.18 in restitution to the Deschutes County Circuit Court, Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, First Interstate Bank in Bend and Bend Fire & Rescue, a news release from federal prosecutors said.

“Constructing a hoax bomb and threatening to blow up a courthouse to interfere with a judicial proceeding, is beyond reprehensible,” 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.”

Renn Cannon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon, said, "Hoax devices cause real-world damage. They cost money for first responders and businesses, and they create fear for those who live and work in the area. The device that Cameron built - and the 911 calls he made - did both.

"If you become aware of a potential threat, we encourage you to contact the FBI or local law enforcement right away," Cannon added.

According to court documents, on or about July 28 to July 29, 2019, Cameron and co-defendant Jonathon Tyler Allen, also of Bend, conspired with one another to shut down the county courthouse in Bend by planting a fake bomb and calling in a bomb threat.

Around the same time, Cameron constructed a realistic looking fake bomb using batteries, wiring, a circuit board and a fuel filter, among other materials, prosecutors said.

Early on the morning of July 29, 2019, Cameron and Allen drove to the courthouse and placed the hoax device on a ramp near the building. Cameron used a cell phone to call 911 and told 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.”  

Less than an hour later, Cameron called 911 and repeated his threat, using more urgent and profanity-laden language.

As a result of the threat, the Deschutes courthouse, the district attorney’s office, a bank, and other nearby businesses were shut down and evacuated while first responders rushed to the scene and investigated the threat.

When the device was discovered, a bomb squad used disabling techniques to prevent an explosion. The device was later dismantled and found to be a hoax.

On August 7, 2019, Cameron and Allen were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to make a threat to damage property and conveying false information and hoaxes.

Cameron pleaded guilty in federal court on August 21, 2020 to using a telephone to make a threat to damage a building by means of an explosive.

Allen, who pleaded guilty to the charge in June, was sentenced in September to 18 months in federal prison and three years' supervised release, along with being ordered to pay $43,620 in restitution.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bend Police Department, and was prosecuted by Nathan J. Lichvarcik and William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

For more information on what to do if you become aware of a potential threat, check out the FBI's webpage on hoax threats.  Those wishing to report a tip to the FBI can do so by calling the nearest office or submitting information online at tips.fbi.gov.