Arkansas man charged in connection with power grid sabotage

By Chelsea J. Carter, CNN
updated 5:19 PM EDT, Sat October 12, 2013

(CNN) -- A Jacksonville, Arkansas, man has been charged in connection with attacks on the power grid in a rural area of the state, the U.S. Justice Department said Saturday.

Jason Woodring, 37, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging him with destruction of an energy facility, the Justice Department said.

Woodring is accused of carrying out multiple acts of sabotage, targeting high-voltage power lines and a substation over a period of months, that knocked out power to thousands, the agency said.

Woodring was arrested Saturday after authorities found evidence similar to those used at one of the sabotage sites, authorities said.

"Interviews were conducted and information from these interviews was connected to previous grid attacks resulting in the arrest of Woodring," according to a statement released by the the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Woodring is expected to make his first court appearance on Tuesday.

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