Guilty plea entered and case closed for toppling the ancient rock in Utah

I am not trying to start debate or any crazy drama here. This is just an update
Remember this?
Utah scout leaders who toppled ancient rock: 'We did something right the wrong way' - NBC News

Now the update, they plea guilty to avoid felony charge, the charges has been downgraded to misdemeanor which I think is fair enough.

2 former Boy Scout leaders plead guilty to toppling ancient Utah rock formation, avoid jail | Fox News

Published March 18, 2014Associated PressFacebook64 Twitter27 Gplus0
SALT LAKE CITY – Two Utah men removed from their Boy Scout leadership positions after a viral video showed them toppling an ancient rock formation pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges Tuesday and avoided jail time.

Glenn Taylor, 45, and David Hall, 42, appeared in Utah's 7th District Court to enter their pleas under a deal with prosecutors. The two men from Highland were sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to pay fines and restitution, which has not yet been determined, The Salt Lake Tribune reported (Utah ).

State prosecutors are still trying to put a price on the amount of damage caused last October to the mushroom-shaped sandstone pillar, which park officials said had been standing for much of human history, if not longer. The formation was estimated to be about 170 million years old.

A video shot by Hall and posted on YouTube shows Taylor dislodging the formation at Goblin Valley State Park in central Utah that's filled with thousands of the pillars called "hoodoos."

Hall, Taylor and a third man were seen cheering and high-fiving after the formation toppled.

The men claimed it might have been ready to fall and kill a visitor. Both were later stripped of their Boy Scout positions.

Scott Card, an attorney for Taylor, told the Tribune that the restitution will be thousands of dollars and will go toward putting up signs in the park to warn others against damaging the formations.

Both men were originally facing felony mischief charges. If Taylor and Hall meet the requirements of their probation, the offenses will later be removed from their records.

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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Local News - Salt Lake City News, Sports, Entertainment, Business - The Salt Lake Tribune

diehardbiker said:

I am not trying to start debate or any crazy drama here. This is just an update
Remember this?
Utah scout leaders who toppled ancient rock: 'We did something right the wrong way' - NBC News

Now the update, they plea guilty to avoid felony charge, the charges has been downgraded to misdemeanor which I think is fair enough.

2 former Boy Scout leaders plead guilty to toppling ancient Utah rock formation, avoid jail | Fox News

Published March 18, 2014Associated PressFacebook64 Twitter27 Gplus0
SALT LAKE CITY – Two Utah men removed from their Boy Scout leadership positions after a viral video showed them toppling an ancient rock formation pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges Tuesday and avoided jail time.

Glenn Taylor, 45, and David Hall, 42, appeared in Utah's 7th District Court to enter their pleas under a deal with prosecutors. The two men from Highland were sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to pay fines and restitution, which has not yet been determined, The Salt Lake Tribune reported (Utah ).

State prosecutors are still trying to put a price on the amount of damage caused last October to the mushroom-shaped sandstone pillar, which park officials said had been standing for much of human history, if not longer. The formation was estimated to be about 170 million years old.

A video shot by Hall and posted on YouTube shows Taylor dislodging the formation at Goblin Valley State Park in central Utah that's filled with thousands of the pillars called "hoodoos."

Hall, Taylor and a third man were seen cheering and high-fiving after the formation toppled.

The men claimed it might have been ready to fall and kill a visitor. Both were later stripped of their Boy Scout positions.

Scott Card, an attorney for Taylor, told the Tribune that the restitution will be thousands of dollars and will go toward putting up signs in the park to warn others against damaging the formations.

Both men were originally facing felony mischief charges. If Taylor and Hall meet the requirements of their probation, the offenses will later be removed from their records.

___

Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Local News - Salt Lake City News, Sports, Entertainment, Business - The Salt Lake Tribune

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how?

and I already knew they weren't going to face a serious hard time. common sense.... just a spank on the wrist and all is done. *shrug*

And I feel they got off too easy , other people my feel they can do this too and only get a slap on the wrist.

What was the original charges? That original charges was dropped which I agreed 100%. That is where you don't get it and do NOT start drama here. If you continue drama, I will have mod lock this thread up. That is my last warning to you.

Jiro said:

how?

and I already knew they weren't going to face a serious hard time. common sense.... just a spank on the wrist and all is done. *shrug*

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I am sorry, I had to disagree with you. One of these guy lost their loved one from rock fell on them. It is just their memories triggered their fear for others which I applaud them.

I would have agree with you if it was their SECOND offense. Simple as is.

whatdidyousay! said:

And I feel they got off too easy , other people my feel they can do this too and only get a slap on the wrist.

Click to expand...

diehardbiker said:

What was the original charges? That original charges was dropped which I agreed 100%. That is where you don't get it and do NOT start drama here. If you continue drama, I will have mod lock this thread up. That is my last warning to you.

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FYI - the charges were not dropped. they were reduced. if the charges were dropped, it means the government did not have any sufficient evidence to charge them.

both parties have negotiated and agreed on terms which led to reduction of charges and a spank on the wrist. that was what I already knew was going to happen. to think they'd be charged to the fullest extent of the law is comical.

Whatever!

diehardbiker said:

Whatever!

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whoa. dramatic one, aren't you?

I believe that Utah state legislature may change the law to tighten the criminal penalties for damage the historic rocks in state park.

I know two dumb men made excuse to got away from serious charge and they should get charge with felony and put in prison for about 18 months.

That's not good news for Utahans and park lovers.

In my state, if you make property damage that cost more than $2,500 so you will charge with low level felony - it can be up to 10 years in state prison and no more than $15,000 fine.

I believe this stone in state park may value more than few thousands, may $5,000.

diehardbiker said:

I am sorry, I had to disagree with you. One of these guy lost their loved one from rock fell on them. It is just their memories triggered their fear for others which I applaud them.

I would have agree with you if it was their SECOND offense. Simple as is.

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I do not buy that at all ! Then what the HELL was he doing in that park in the first place? This made is looks like the guy only went to the park so he could destroy it. If he had that much fear of rocks that park should had been the last place he would want to go. After my car was T Boned by a teenager driver I avoid driving in that intersection for awhile.