Men indicted for allegedly damaging ancient rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Two Nevada men are facing charges after they allegedly damaged ancient rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
On April 7, two men were caught on camera pushing large chunks of the rock formations over the edge of a cliff onto the ground below while on or near the Redstone Dunes Trail at Lake Mead.
A video of the incident went viral on social media, and the National Park Service shared a screenshot asking for the public's help identifying the suspects.
The history of the recreation area is significant, according to the National Park Service. What is now hard sandstone was once loose sand dunes 140 million years ago. The dunes were shaped by geologic forces over millions of years into the bright red rock formations you can see today.
The damages were more than $1,000, according to the indictment.
Now, a federal grand jury has indicted Wyatt Clifford Fain, 37, and Payden David Guy Cosper, 31, on one count of injury and depredation of government property and one count of aiding and abetting.
Fain and Cosper were arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and made their initial court appearance on Friday. A jury trial has been scheduled for October.
Lawyers representing both men did not issue a comment when contacted by NPR.
If they are convicted, Fain and Cosper could each face up to 10 years in prison.
"National parks are some of the most special, treasured, and protected areas of our country," the Park Service reminded visitors. "To protect these natural and cultural resources for this and future generations, all visitors to national parks are expected to follow park laws and regulations and practice leave no trace principles to minimize their impact on park lands."
Late last year another Nevada resident was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay restitution for defacing a national monument. The Las Vegas resident had climbed up onto a ledge at Gold Butte National Monument and kicked a petroglyph, breaking the panel of petroglyphs into pieces. He took a broken off piece of the petroglyph home, investigators found.
"The petroglyph was created approximately 700 to 1,500 years ago. This site is important to people of the Moapa Band of Paiutes, Southern Paiute tribes more broadly, and other indigenous people of the region," U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Nevada, said in a press release.
The actions were found to violate the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.
If you see something suspicious in any National Park location, or if you have information that could aid an investigation, call the NPS-wide Tip Line at 1-888-653-0009 or submit a tip online here.