Teen Avoids Jail Time in Dropped Kelso Mall Plot Case

Prosecutors drop major charges against 14-year-old accused of planning mass shooting and bombing at Three Rivers Mall.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:52am by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 14-year-old teen once accused of planning a mass shooting and bombing at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Oregon has pleaded guilty to lesser charges as part of a deal that dropped the most serious counts. The teen will avoid jail time and instead be placed on probation with conditions that include restricted travel, internet use, and recommended treatment.

Why it matters

The case drew national attention last year when federal authorities announced the teen's arrest, saying they had disrupted what they believed was an imminent attack. However, a judge later ruled that key evidence from an online chat group was inadmissible, significantly weakening the state's case against the teen.

The details

The teen pleaded guilty in Columbia County Circuit Court to two counts of disorderly conduct and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon. Three of the four counts stem from an earlier incident in which the teen allegedly sent photos of himself holding his parents' guns to classmates on Snapchat. Only one disorderly conduct count is connected to the alleged mall plot.

  • The teen was 14 at the time of his arrest in June 2025.
  • The teen pleaded guilty to the lesser charges on April 2, 2026.

The players

Chris Heywood

The teen's attorney who said the plea deal reflects the teen's right to be presumed innocent and follows disputes over evidence from the online chat group where an undercover FBI agent was participating.

Doug Olson

The FBI's special agent in charge in Portland who said at the time of the teen's arrest that the FBI and its partners believed they had prevented a tragic event in the community.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“My client's been trying to get that presumption of innocence that he was entitled to back this whole time, and today's the final ratification of that.”

— Chris Heywood, Teen's Attorney

“This case had every indication that it was imminent. And we believe the FBI, along with our partners, prevented a tragic event in our community.”

— Doug Olson, FBI Special Agent in Charge

What’s next

The judge did not specify how long the teen's probation period will be.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities of prosecuting alleged threats made by minors online, especially when key evidence is ruled inadmissible. It also raises questions about the role of mental health, bullying, and family dynamics in these types of cases.