Benjamin Jaramillo Hernandez, Obstruction of Religious Exercise, Oregon 2018

EUGENE, Ore. — Benjamin Jaramillo Hernandez, 69, of Eugene, Oregon, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for a weeks-long campaign of terror targeting St. Mary Catholic Church in September 2018. The attack included pepper-spraying church doors, leaving live ammunition, and delivering a handwritten threat promising mass violence — all rooted in religious hatred, federal prosecutors say.

Hernandez pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2019, to two counts: obstruction of religious exercise and unlawful possession of ammunition. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. The announcement came from Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams for the District of Oregon, who called the acts a direct assault on constitutional freedoms.

The assault began on Sept. 9, 2018, when Hernandez was removed from St. Mary’s property after an outburst during communion. Five days later, someone sprayed pepper spray through the church office’s mail slot and on door handles. Staff reported burning skin and respiratory distress. Surveillance footage linked Hernandez to the attack, according to Eugene police and FBI investigators.

On Sept. 16, a witness saw Hernandez near the Eugene Public Library across from the church. He shouted, ‘I’ve got something for you right here,’ while gesturing to a bag he carried. Days later, on Sept. 20, church employees found a threatening note and seven 10mm Sig hollow point bullets. The note promised ‘2 MP5s w/ 50 rounds each’ and declared, ‘Eugene is going on the [expletive] map.’

Surveillance again identified Hernandez as the person who left the note and bullets. He was arrested the next day, Sept. 21, at the library. Officers found on his person a partially empty pepper spray can, three .410 shotgun shells, and thirteen 10mm Sig hollow point bullets — same brand and caliber as those left at the church.

Church staff and parishioners say the psychological and physical toll has been lasting. Some suffered injuries, others fear returning. Attendance and donations have dropped. ‘No conviction can reverse the harm,’ said U.S. Attorney Williams, ‘but we hope it brings justice.’ The FBI and Eugene Police led the investigation, underscoring federal resolve to protect religious communities from violent extremism.

Related Federal Cases