Featured Image Credit: Instagram/TouronsOfYellowstone
Topics: Environment, Nature, US News
Callum Jones
Topics: Environment, Nature, US News
The pair of tourists who allegedly destroyed a 'beautiful' rock formation at a national park site have been charged.
Back in April, footage emerged of two tourists 'destroying' the formation at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona.
A post by the Lake Mead National Recreation Area - National Park Service (NPS) on Facebook read at the time: "US park rangers at Lake Mead National Recreation Area are seeking information from the public to identify two vandalism suspects seen here.
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"In a now viral video said to be recorded on the evening of Sunday, April 7, 2024, two adult males are seen toppling natural rock formations at the Redstone Dunes Trail.
"Information from visitors is often very helpful to investigators. If you were on the Redstone Dunes Trail on the evening of Sunday, April 7, 2024, or if you have information that could help identify the suspects, please submit a tip."
Public Information Officer Lake Mead National Recreation Area John Haynes said the incident 'feels like a personal attack in a way' as the 'beautiful' rock formation and site are 'one of [his] favorite places in the park'.
"And they’re up there just destroying it. I don’t understand that," he added. "It's pretty appalling, it is kind of disgusting."
On Friday (23 August), Payden David Guy Cosper, 31, and Wyatt Clifford Fain, 37, pleaded not guilty to one count of injury and depredation of government property.
The US Attorney's Office claims the two men 'pushed large chunks of ancient rock formations over the edge of a cliff onto the ground below'.
This caused damage in excess of $1,000, according to law enforcement.
Ross Goodman, an attorney representing Cosper, stated: "There were no signs posted at the entrance prohibiting pushing rocks or that it was a federally a protected site."
Speaking further to CNN, Goodman said: "Mr. Cosper did not have any knowledge that pushing a boulder was unlawful until the US Marshalls showed up [at] his house four months later."
Meanwhile, Fain's legal representative, Brian Pugh, added: "The justice system presumes that all accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law. This applies to Mr. Fain."
A trial for the two men is set for 8 October 2024, where they will learn their fate.
If convicted, Cosper and Fain could face up to ten years in prison, according to US Attorney’s Office.