Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Man Sentenced for Damage to Lone Star Geyser
On Tuesday, February 3rd, A.E., 22, of Vancouver, Washington,
appeared in magistrate's court in the park for sentencing on charges
stemming from an incident at Lone Star Geyser last fall. On October
10th, A.E. drove his four-wheel-drive Toyota Tacoma around a locked
barricade at the Lone Star Geyser parking area and down the trail to the
geyser. At the end of the asphalt, he and his companion, A.O.,
19, of Battle Ground, Washington, moved a log barrier and drove
completely around the cone of the geyser and surrounding meadows until
the vehicle became stuck in the soft soil, causing considerable resource
damage. Park staff and members of the Montana Conservation Corp have to
date spent more than 80 hours mitigating the damage inflicted on the
area. A reassessment of the damaged areas will be completed this spring,
with revegetation and restoration efforts to continue as necessary.
A.E. was charged with operating a vehicle off road, injuring mineral
resources, possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, improper
food storage, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's
license. At the February 3rd proceeding, A.E. was found guilty on all
five charges and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 70 days
suspended, followed by three years probation; banned from entering the
park for five years; ordered to pay a towing bill of $386.69; and fined
$1,550. He will also have to pay the NPS for the full cost of the
restoration and the court for the cost of his court-appointed attorney.
The case against A.O. is still being adjudicated and will be heard at a
later date. Ranger Dave Page and special agent Dan Kirschner were the
case agents.
[Submitted by Brian Smith, Supervisory Special
Agent]
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.