Padre Island National Seashore (TX)
Child Pornography Conviction and Sentencing
On May 27, 2002, K.C.J., 47, of San Antonio, was arrested by rangers for public intoxication. A loaded handgun was seized at the time of arrest. During the subsequent impoundment and inventory of K.C.J.'s vehicle, a video camera mounted on a tripod was observed in the front passenger seat, with the camera pointed out the window. Plastic action figures, such as Spiderman, were prominently displayed on the dashboard, and three pairs of children's swim goggles were observed in the rear window. Rangers also found alcohol, marijuana, videotapes and a three-ring binder containing 105 photographs of nude female children in various poses. Many of the photographs had Internet web sites printed on them, with some of the web sites appearing to originate outside the United States. The local Customs office was notified and a joint child pornography investigation was begun. On May 30, 2002, pursuant to a federal search warrant, rangers and Customs special agents, accompanied by a Corpus Christi Police Department computer forensics expert and San Antonio Police Department officers, searched K.C.J.'s San Antonio apartment and seized computers, videotapes, film and additional printed images of nude female children. Computer forensics experts eventually downloaded approximately 34,000 pornographic images from K.C.J.'s computers, of which approximately 17,000 were images of nude female children. Seized videotapes showed, among other things, children playing on the beach and elsewhere, apparently unaware they were being videotaped. Interview statements given by former neighbors revealed that K.C.J. had been seen carrying a video camera while outside apartment windows in his apartment complex. He also had been seen dancing nude on his apartment balcony. K.C.J. was subsequently arrested and held without bond after a federal magistrate judge ruled that he was a danger to himself and others. K.C.J. was indicted by a federal grand jury in Corpus Christi on seven felony counts related to possessing downloaded child pornography (22 USC 2252) and pled guilty in federal district court to four of those counts. On February 13th, K.C.J. was sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed, 37 months in prison, and fined $3,100. He will be under three years supervised probation upon release and must also meet the following requirements:
- He must register as a sex offender and receive drug and sex offender counseling.
- He cannot possess illegal drugs, alcohol, firearms or cameras, including video cameras.
- He cannot access the internet.
- He is banned from visiting places where children congregate, including beaches, day care centers, children's camps, restaurants that cater to children, etc.
- He must submit a DNA sample.
The judge stated the sentence she imposed was not long enough, but
she was constrained by sentencing guidelines. Calling Jackson a danger
and a serious threat to children, the judge focused on the fact that he
had been arrested at a public beach, intoxicated and in possession of
illegal drugs and a loaded weapon while taking videos of children. The
judge also said she did not believe Jackson's statement that there had
never been any physical contact between himself and children. Rangers
Pat Donohue and Tom Crowson made the case against Jackson.
[Submitted by Randy Larson]
Petroglyph National Monument (NM)
Plane Crash with Three Fatalities
A Piper Malibu flying from Scottsdale to Albuquerque was reported
overdue on the evening of Friday, March 7th. The plane was to have
landed at Double Eagle II airport, located to the west-northwest of the
park; when it failed to appear, the pilot's wife notified authorities. A
search was begun by Albuquerque PD and rangers from the city's Open
Space Division. At the same time, power surges were reported to the
local utility company, which dispatched crews to look for the cause. The
utility crews found the damaged line and downed plane on the northeast
side of Butte Volcano just inside the park. That area of Petroglyph NM
is owned and co-managed by the city of Albuquerque. The plane's
owner/pilot and his son and business partner were all killed in the
crash. State police took over at the scene and secured it through the
early morning. On March 8th, NPS rangers arrived and began working with
Open Space rangers to secure the area for arriving FAA and NTSB
investigators. The investigation was still underway at the time of the
report on Saturday. Rangers were working with other agencies to maintain
security for the area until the investigation is completed and debris
have been removed.
[Submitted by Michael Quijano, Chief Ranger]
New River Gorge National River (WV)
Man Jumps from Blade Creek Bridge
On the afternoon of March 3rd, the park received a report of a
possible suicide from the Blade Creek Bridge on I-64 within the park. A
state courtesy patrol found an abandoned vehicle on the bridge with its
engine still running and a wallet with identification left in plain
sight on the front seat. Rangers and state police searched below the
bridge and found the body of a 24-year-old man from Grand Bank,
Michigan. Due to restricted access caused by high water and hazardous
conditions from recent snowfalls, the decision was made to raise the
body 400 feet up the side of the gorge. A volunteer rescue team assisted
in the recovery operation. Investigators determined that the man was on
active duty with the Navy and had been assigned to a ship in Norfolk.
He'd been reported AWOL that morning. The state police are conducting
the follow-up investigation with assistance from the Navy.
[Submitted by Gary Hartley, Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report - March 6, 2003
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack was light on Thursday, with 40 new fires reported. There was one large (835 acres) in Maryland, but it had been fully contained. Resource commitments to the Columbia Response and Newcastle Incidents remain the same as previously reported.
NIFC did not issue incident management situation reports over the weekend.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
3/3 |
3/4 |
3/5 |
| Crews |
160 |
169 |
149 |
| Engines |
2 |
6 |
6 |
| Helicopters |
36 |
36 |
1 |
| Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
2,601 |
2,697 |
2,438 |
National Team Commitments
| State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Incident & Location |
Acres |
Percent Contain |
Est Full Contain |
| TX |
T1 |
Lohrey |
Columbia Response, TX |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| TX |
T1 |
Martin |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T1 |
McCombs |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Custer |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| TX |
T2 |
Hildreth |
" |
" |
" |
" |
| NV |
T1 |
Corley |
Newcastle Incident, NV |
" |
" |
" |
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Visitor and Resource Protection
Comments Solicited on Special Park Use Forms
The special park use application forms for special events (10-930) and for filming and photography (10-932) expire in September. A Federal Register notice appeared on March 7th, asking for public comments on the revised forms, which have been slightly modified. If you wish to comment on them, you can find the forms at www.nps.gov/policy/DOrders/Permitforms/pdf . Comments should be sent to Lee Dickinson in WASO by May 6th.
[Submitted by Lee Dickinson, WASO]
Servicewide Training
Weekly Listing of Operations Training Opportunities
This calendar appears every Monday as an addendum to the Morning Report and a separate entry for InsideNPS. It is not meant to be replace the Learning Place; rather it is a quick summary of available training with links (as available) to relevant Learning Place pages. Please note:
- New entries are in bold face.
- Submissions for other training courses should conform to the style used here.
- Please include the URL to the web sites where readers can obtain the requisite forms and/or find out additional information about the training course. If a URL is not specifically listed, the announcement can likely be found on the Learning Place, the NPS training page found at http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/index.doc.
- Closing dates for applications are underscored.
- Contact names are listed at the end of each entry with parentheses and are given as email addresses.
**********************************************************************************************
March
March 31 — April 4: Fundamentals of Special Park Uses, Atlanta, GA. This course provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of special park uses, including the permitting process, compliance issues, filming and photography and First Amendment activities. [UPDATE: Although nominations were due in WASO by February 28th, there are still spots available in this course — one of only two scheduled for this fiscal year (the other will be in Albuquerque in August). If you're interested, fax a one-page nomination to Heidi Kunkel at 404-562-3266. For more information, contact Lee Dickinson at 202-513-7092 or Sandy Taylor at 404-562-3158. [Lee_Dickinson@nps.gov]
April
April 7 - April 9: Archeological Resource Crimes Investigation, Manassas NBP, Manassas, VA. This three-day course, instructed by Martin McAllister and ARI, Inc., is comparable to the new basic ARPA course offered at FLETC. The course is designed for law enforcement personnel, archeologists and managers. Tuition is $125. Closes on March 10. For more information, contact Will Reynolds at 202-329-1311. [Will_Reynolds@nps.gov]
April 8 — April 18: Certified Structural Firefighter, El Portal, Yosemite NP, CA. Class size is limited. Nominees must be able to meet current NPS medical standards for structural firefighters and should have current medical certificates. They should also be able to meet current arduous duty physical fitness standards for wildland firefighters. Closes on March 15. For more information, contact Deron Mills at 209-379-1902. [Harold_Spencer@nps.gov]
April 7 - April 18: Firearms Instructor Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on March 14. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
April 8 - June 7: Criminal Investigator Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on March 13. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
April 15 — April 18: OSHA 510, Construction Safety and Health, Siren, WI. The course introduces participants to OSHA construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926). Topics will include confined spaces, welding, tools, fall protection, ladders, scaffolding, electrical, construction health hazards, cranes and rigging and fire protection. Closes on March 19. For information on how to apply, contact Dorothy Printup at 301-663-8206 ext. 101. [Shirley_Rowley@nps.gov]
April 21 - 25: National Wildfire Investigation Training (XP-NWITP-302), Grand Junction, CO. Topics include determining fire causes and origins, processing crime scenes, arson laws, and investigative techniques. Closes on March 14. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
April 22 - May 1: Police Bicycle Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on March 20. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
April 28 - May 9: Technical Investigative Equipment Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on March 24. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
April 29 - May 1: Basic EMT Refresher, Zion NP, UT. Taught by Tod Levesh, a former parkmedic and current paramedic and FEM/A urban SAR team member. Tuition: $75. Lodging is at the Driftwood Lodge, 435-772-3262. For more information, contact Cody Cole, EMS coordinator, Zion NP, at 435-772-0163. [Randy-Coffman@nps.gov]
May
May 5 - May 9: High Angle Rope Rescue Training, New River Gorge, WV. The course will focus on basic to advanced high angle rope rescue techniques. All participants must be in good physical condition and be able to spend extended periods of time on fixed ropes. Climbing ability is not necessary. For more information, contact ranger Rob Turan at 304-763-3145 ext. 14. [Rob_Turan@nps.gov]
May 5 - May 16: Physical Fitness Instructor, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Training for physical fitness and wellness coordinators. Graduates will be able to give the PEB and additional assessments. Closes April 1. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 12: Park Medic Refresher, University Medical Center, Fresno, CA. Twelve hours of advanced life support continuing education. The course will cover a large portion of the NREMT mandatory core refresher requirements for EMT intermediates. To register, contact Donna Armijo at UMC (559-459-5105); for general information, call Debbie Benchely at Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP (559-565-4334). [Randy-Coffman@nps.gov]
May 12 - May 16: National Wildfire Investigation Training (XP-NWITP-303), Prescott, AZ. Topics include determining fire causes and origins, processing crime scenes, arson laws, and investigative techniques. Closes on April 3. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 12 - May 23: Physical Security, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Physical security systems and procedures, physical security surveys. Closes on April 10. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 12 - May 23: Firearms Instructor Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 2. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 15 - August 25: Basic Law Enforcement Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 2. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
May 27 - May 30: Instructor Training for Non-Lethal Training Ammunition, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 22. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
June
June 2 - June 13: Technical Investigative Equipment Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 29. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
June 9 - June 20: Firearms Instructor Training Program, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Closes on April 29. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
June 10 — June 19: LE Supervision, FLETC, Glynco, GA. This program provides trainees with the opportunity to develop and refined their supervisory abilities. The instructors are all current or former supervisory law enforcement professionals. Closes on April 29. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Mojave National Preserve (CA)
GS-401-11 FMO and GS-025-9 Ranger
The park has openings for a GS-025-9 commissioned park ranger and for a GS-401-11 fire management officer. The ranger is duty-stationed at Kessler Spring Ranch at about 4,500 feet. The FMO is responsible for oversight of an interagency fire center which includes both NPS and BLM firefighters. The duty station is in Barstow. The announcements close, respectively, on March 24th and April 3rd.
[Submitted by Tim Duncan]
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
GS-1102-11/12 Supervisory Contracting Specialist
The park is seeking a GS-1102-11/12 supervisory contracting specialist to serve as the chief of the park's branch of contracting and property, which includes contracting, purchasing, property management, warehouse operations, fleet management and accounts payable. She/he also manages the Ash Mountain supply center, which supports substantial routine and emergency operations typically found in a large, complex park. The supervisory contracting specialist maintains a Level III or IV contract warrant and directly supervises a GS-11 contracting specialist and four administrative staff. The duty station is at headquarters at Ash Mountain, 15 minutes beyond Three Rivers. See USA Jobs for details.
[Submitted by Emily Edgar]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.