Oregon Man Faces 20-Year Sentence After 'Home Alone' Style Booby Trap Shot Federal Officer

An Oregon jury has convicted a 71-year-old man, Gregory Lee Rodvelt, for crimes committed in 2018, involving the booby-trapping of a home that resulted in an FBI agent being shot.

Rodvelt was found guilty of assaulting a federal officer and using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, as reported by the United States Attorney’s Office District of Oregon.

According to court documents, in September 2018, Oregon State Police and the FBI discovered homemade traps on a property previously owned by Rodvelt.

After losing the property in a lawsuit, Rodvelt reportedly set up various booby traps, reminiscent of the famous movie “Home Alone,” starring Macaulay Culkin.

.@SAConScene Gregory Lee Rodvelt, was accused of assaulting a federal officer after an F.B.I agent was wounded by a booby trap set up in Redvelt’s southwest Oregon home. https://t.co/nJWsrqBvqD

— Christina (@christimt329) October 3, 2018

Upon approaching the property, law enforcement discovered steel animal traps affixed under the hood of a minivan and to a gate post.

They also found homemade spike strips that had been run over by a receiver appointed to sell the property.

The investigation revealed a hot tub placed on its side, rigged to roll toward anyone who opened a gate, evoking a scene from the film “Indiana Jones — Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

Is 20 years too harsh or just about right?

Additionally, a rat trap modified to accept a shotgun shell was connected to the main garage door, intending to fire when opened.

Further exploration of the property revealed barred windows, security doors, and bullet holes on the front door, indicating shots fired from inside the house.

When law enforcement breached the front door with explosives, they discovered a wheelchair in the entryway.

The wheelchair triggered a homemade shotgun device, shooting an FBI bomb technician below the knee with a .410 caliber round.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 71-year-old Gregory Lee Rodvelt, had lost the home in a lawsuit, and learned that a receiver had been appointed to sell the property, to which he responded by boobytrapping it. #liveonkval https://t.co/oqdV3omvql

— KVAL News (@KVALnews) June 6, 2023

The convicted man now faces severe consequences for his actions.

He could potentially receive up to 20 years in federal prison for assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon and a potential life sentence for using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

The verdict serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the law and protecting law enforcement officers who work diligently to safeguard our communities.

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