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Devils Hole Vandals: An Update On Justice Delivered

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Published Date

May 3, 2018
Devils Hole at Death Valley National Park/NPS

Two men involved in vandalism at Devils Hole at Death Valley National Park have been sentenced to probation and fined/NPS

The wheels of justice never seem to move very fast, but they're catching up for three men arrested in connection with vandalism at Devils Hole at Death Valley National Park back in 2016.

Three men broke into the Devils Hole area on the last day of April 2016 and vandalized the area by discharging a firearm and swimming in the warm spring that nourishes an endangered species of pupfish. At least one pupfish was killed.

At the time, the Park Service said "three men in an OHV drove off-road around a gate at the Devils Hole parking lot. They discharged a firearm at least 10 times, shooting locks on two gates, a motion sensor on the security system, and several signs. One man swam in Devils Hole and left his boxer shorts behind in the water. Alcohol was involved; three beer cans were left behind and one man vomited."

Security camera captured three men vandalizing Devils Hole at Death Valley National Park/NPS

A security camera captured the three men vandalizing Devils Hole at Death Valley National Park/NPS

This past January, Edgar Reyes of North Las Vegas and Steven Schwinkendorf of Pahrump, Nevada, pleaded guilty to destruction of government property. In February, each was sentenced to 12 months probation and fined $5,622.83, according to park staff.

However, the third man, Trenton Sargent, is scheduled to go to trial this August on charges of destruction of government property, violating the Endangered Species Act, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and a felon in possession of a firearm. He also allegedly waded through the shallow shelf just below the surface of the water.

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Comments

Submitted by Andy Cooley on May 3, 2018 - 6:46am.

Too bad the punishment couldn't have been more severe!


Submitted by Chip B on May 4, 2018 - 11:16am.

I'm thinking these guys got off very lucky!!  The amount of the fine is a joke - should have been 5 times more - at least!!  And some jail time would have been appropriate.


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