Bend Bomber Faces Federal Prison for Courthouse Hoax

EUGENE, Ore.—In a stunning turn of events, Bend, Oregon resident Jonathan Tyler Allen, 24, was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in the notorious July 29, 2019, hoax bomb incident at the Deschutes County Courthouse. U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced the sentence.

Allen was handed an 18-month federal prison term and three years of supervised release. The court also ordered him to pay $43,620 in restitution to the affected entities, including the Deschutes County Circuit Court, Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, First Interstate Bank in Bend, and Bend Fire & Rescue.

According to court documents, Allen and his co-conspirator, Kellie Cameron, 31, hatched a plan to disrupt the courthouse operations. They constructed a fake bomb using batteries, wiring, a circuit board, and a fuel filter. On July 29, they drove to the courthouse and placed the device on a ramp near the building.

The chaos began at 7:18am when Cameron, accompanied by Allen, called 911 to report the presence of bombs. Less than an hour later, he made another call, repeating his threat. Allen was later seen discarding one of the phones used in the hoax into a canal.

Allen and Cameron were charged with conspiring to make a threat regarding explosive materials and conveying false information and hoaxes on August 7, 2019. On June 5, 2020, Allen pleaded guilty to the charge. Cameron made his first appearance in federal court on August 21, 2019, entering a not guilty plea and being ordered detained until trial.

This case was a joint investigation by the FBI, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and Bend Police Department, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Lichvarcik and William M. McLaren. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice, this case underscores the agency’s commitment to justice and public safety.