Man wanted for multiple incidents across four states
Staff Reports
GREENLEE COUNTY — Greenlee County authorities announced they are moving forward with criminal damage charges against Stephen Plato McRae, 66, in connection with a series of incidents across the Clifton Ranger District of the Gila and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and adjacent private property during the summer of 2025.
According to investigative reports from the U.S. Forest Service and Greenlee County Sheriff’s Office, the vandalism began around June 3, 2025, and included the cutting of two large government-owned water tanks on Red Hill Road, spray-painted anti-Trump graffiti on multiple structures, including a cement barricade and rock embankment, and the destruction of a white watering trough. An American flag was also torn down from a post along Blue River Road. Estimated damage to the Forest Service tanks and trough alone exceeded $13,400, not including labor costs.
A separate incident on Aug. 9, 2025, involved cutting barbed-wire fencing, removing gate signs, and damaging a solar panel system on private land in the upper Eagle Creek area. The property owner estimated damages at $15,344.12. Trail-camera footage captured a man holding bolt cutters near the scene, along with a silver Suzuki SUV bearing New Mexico license plate RWW733—the only vehicle entering and exiting the remote area during the relevant time window.
Investigators linked Stephen McRae to the SUV through matching tire-tread impressions left at multiple vandalism sites, witness descriptions of a small silver SUV driving without headlights on Blue River Road the night of the tank and graffiti damage, and direct comparison of photographs. Stephen McRae was arrested in Colorado after leading deputies on a brief pursuit during which he discarded a rooftop cargo carrier. He was taken into custody on a $100,000 warrant issued by Greenlee County’s Duncan Justice Court. Tire-tread analysis from the vehicle matched impressions photographed at the June 16 vandalism scenes.
Stephen McRae, 66, was previously sentenced in 2019 to eight years in federal prison for ecoterrorism when he damaged an energy facility in Utah by shooting its cooling fins. He was released in 2022. As part of the plea agreement, McRae also admitted that he damaged other energy facilities for which he was not charged. The United States and local prosecuting authorities agreed not to seek charges for those offenses.
The other offenses include damage McRae caused to the Libson Valley Substation in San Juan County, Utah, on April 1, 2015; damage he caused to the Quinn River Substation in Humboldt County, Nevada, on Aug. 31, 2016; and damage he caused to the Baker Substation in White Pine County, Nevada, on Sept. 14, 2016.
McRae faces multiple pending charges in other states for acts of vandalism in his latest round of “activism”.
Greenlee County officials stated the case is now moving forward to prosecution, citing the volume of physical evidence, vehicle identification, and McRae’s documented history. No trial date has been set.
