Two of three men who broke into the Devils Hole unit of Death Valley National Park have pleaded guilty/NPS file shot of Devils Hole

Back in May 2016, three men broke into the Devils Hole area of Death Valley National Park and, among other things, killed one of the endangered pupfish that live in the warm waters there. Two of the men recently pleaded guilty.

According to the National Park Service, Edgar Reyes of North Las Vegas and Steven Schwinkendorf of Pahrump pleaded guilty to destruction of government property for their actions at Devils Hole on April 30, 2016. They discharged a firearm and damaged government equipment, including locks, the security system, scientific monitoring equipment, and several signs, a park release said. The men agreed to pay $5,622.83 in restitution and face a potential maximum penalty of up to one year in prison and/or a fine of $100,000 for this charge, it added. 

Devils Hole is the only natural habitat of the critically endangered Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis). There were only 115 pupfish in Devils Hole in the most recent survey. A six-foot by 18-foot shallow sunlit shelf provides most of the fish’s food and is the only place they lay eggs. This is considered the smallest natural habitat of any vertebrate species on the planet.

Both men went down to the water surface. Reyes put his hand in the water and Schwinkendorf vomited near the pool, according to authorities. Both men pleaded guilty to violating the Endangered Species Act, which carries a potential maximum penalty of up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000.

Reyes and Schwinkendorf are scheduled for sentencing on February 14 and 15.

A third man, Trenton Sargent of Indian Springs, is charged with destruction of government property, violating the Endangered Species Act, a felon in possession of ammunition, and a felon in possession of a firearm. He allegedly waded through the shallow shelf.

Here's some security video footage captured during the incident: