NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, January 3, 2008

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INCIDENTS

Gateway NRA

Man Sentenced On Abusive Sexual Contact Charge

On May 9, 2007, Sandy Hook rangers responded to a 911 call from a woman who reported being forcibly fondled on Gunnison Beach (click on the link below for the original report). Rangers met her in the parking area and learned that her assailant was still on the beach. The description she provided closely matched that of a man who rangers knew from prior contacts and arrests. They found him on the beach, then arrested the man after the woman positively identified him. Investigation revealed an extensive criminal history, including prior state convictions for sex offenses. On December 21st, he pled guilty in federal court to abusive sexual contact (18 USC 2244) and was sentenced to four months in jail followed by six months of home confinement under electronic monitoring, then five years of supervised probation and a concurrent ban from the park. In addition to mandatory mental health, drug, and alcohol counseling, he will now have to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law. Although the man has numerous prior arrests and convictions, this was the first time his sentence included imprisonment. [Rob Louden, Park Ranger]

HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3210" http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3210

Baltimore Washington Parkway

Man Hit And Killed By Tractor Trailer

A couple heading south on the parkway in their Chevy Impala pulled over to the road's shoulder just before 3 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, December 29th. When the man got out, he was hit by an oncoming tractor trailer. The victim, 36-year-old E.A. of Capitol Heights, Maryland, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor trailer, a government vehicle legally using the parkway, stopped after the accident. A segment of the highway had to be closed until mid-morning while the investigation was conducted. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external):

Office of Public Affairs - Although final numbers are not yet available, it appears that overall visitation rose by about 2.5 million last year.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6108" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6108

Gila Cliff Dwellings NM - The park brought its centennial to a conclusion in mid-November with a series of events, several featuring a Theodore Roosevelt stand-in.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6107" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6107

Catoctin MP - John D. Hart, Sr., the park's facility manager, will complete a successful 39 years and 11 months in the federal government today.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1784" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1784

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828).

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