An Oct. 8 trial date has been set for two Nevada men accused of damaging rock formations estimated to be 140 million years old in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
A federal indictment charged Wyatt Clifford Fain, 37, and Payden David Guy Cosper, 31, with one count of damage and destruction of government property and one count of aiding and abetting. The That’s what the US Department of Justice says the men each face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The two Henderson residents were arrested by the US Marshals Service and made their first court appearance Friday, where they both pleaded not guilty and were released on personal recognizance, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Authorities said Fain and Cosper allegedly drove rock formations over a cliff edge around the Redstone Dunes Trail at Lake Mead on April 7, resulting in more than $1,000 in damage.
National Park Service
In April, National Park Service posted a screenshot from a video reportedly recorded on the evening of April 7, showed two men toppling natural rock formations from the top of a cliff.
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area just outside Las Vegas draws around 6 million visitors each year and spans 2,344 square kilometers of mountains and desert canyons.
Authorities said staffing levels mean park officials often rely on the public to keep an eye on the resources within park boundaries as well.
The National Park Service says if you see anything suspicious, or if you have information that could help an investigation, call the NPS-wide tip line at 1-888-653-0009 or submit a tip online here.