Editor's note: Updated with more details and response from the National Park Service and U.S. Attorney's Office.
The woman who painted and drew on rock formations in Western national parks in 2014 pleaded guilty Monday to defacing government property, according to the National Park Service. She was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service.
Casey Nocket, 23, pleaded guilty in a federal court to seven misdemeanors. She is banned from all lands administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Army Corps of Engineers during her probation period. An Investigative Services Branch Special Agent, aided by the ISB Intelligence Analyst, conducted the investigation, bringing the case to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for prosecution.
"The defendant's defacement of multiple rock formations showed a lack of respect for the law and our shared national treasures," Acting U.S. Attorney Philip Talbert said in a statement. "The National Park Service has worked hard to restore the rock formations to their natural state, completing cleanup efforts in five of the seven parks. They expect to complete cleanup efforts at Death Valley in the near future and at Crater Lake as weather permits."
According to court documents, Nocket damaged rock formations within seven national parks over a 26-day period in 2014, drawing or painting on them using acrylic paints and markers. In a case that drew national attention, Nocket was tracked via photos on her Instagram account. National Park Service investigators confirmed that images were painted on rocks and boulders in Yosemite National Park and Death Valley National Park, both in California; Rocky Mountain National Park and Colorado National Monument, both in Colorado; Crater Lake National Park, in Oregon; and Zion National Park and Canyonlands National Park, both in Utah.
A hearing to determine the amount of restitution Nocket is required to pay will be held at a later date.
"This case illustrates the important role that the public can play in identifying and sharing evidence of illegal behavior in parks," Charles Cuvelier, chief of Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Services for the NPS, said in a release. "It is clear that the public cares deeply for the special places that the National Park Service represents, and the resolution of this case sends a message to those who would consider such inappropriate behavior going forward."
Vandalism at national parks has been in the news a lot recently, with incidents of spray painting at Grand Canyon National Park, killing an endangered species and destruction of property at Death Valley, and rock carving at Arches National Park.
Comments
Vandalism is only a misdemeanor. Should some cases be felonies?
Probation and a few hours of "service" are outrageously light sentences for this young woman. It would have been much more appropriate if there had been 200 hours of service for EVERY ONE of her escapades.
Letting her off so easily is simply disgusting. But such things are normal. Vandalism costs millions or even billions annually nationwide. Until it is taken more seriously by our courts, law enforcement officers at all levels are wasting their time tracking down culprits.
If the Park Service wants to cut down on vandalism they need to work to increase the penalties. Right now there is really no reason for a vandal not to commit acts of vanadalism. There is almost zero risk of being caught, and if you are caught the consequences will be inconsequential. In this case the vandal got a slap on the wrist and lots of free publicity. It would be interesting to see how many hours of employee time were spent investigating and prosecuting these incidents. Was it even worth the cost in the end? It certainly isn't worth my time reporting incidents I observe if there are going to be zero to minimal consequences. It is sad to see Angels Landing covered in graffiti and the aspen trees along the Bear Lake and Glacier Gorge areas in RMNP carved up, but there is no reason to expect anything other than an increase in vandalism as visitation to the parks increases.
Unfortunately, most Federal prosecutors and judges are exposed to mainly urban types of crimes, and don't take the resource ones very seriously. It's up to law enforcement officers to educate them as much as possible, including taking them into the field to show how vulnerable and valuable our natural and cultural resources are.
Dumb ass should have been fined the actual cost of restoration, and sentenced to a year in prison for each incident.
Federal prosecutors and judges are pathetically weak.
What a moron!
FWIW, prosecutors and judges are restrained by the law and regulations. We can all fantasize about an ideal sentence for a particular malfeasant, but to do that you need to change the laws and regulations. If statutes say that Crime #XYZ is a misdemeanor, you will get no where agitating for a Class A felony level of punishment.
Howl at the moon all you wish - and in this case I'm also one who is howling - but change things to get what you want.
what a bunch of bs. 100 years ago it was rock art and now its defacing. first world problem forsure. people are so controlled by the media and government its stupid. live with morals not restrictions. open your mind not your wallet. people that think this is vile or disgusting are the problem with the world. human error natures savior population birt control
She's not done yet. She has a Restitution Hearing coming up at a later date.
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_30014558/woman-sentenced-def...
It's in the fifth paragraph.