Arizona man sentenced for destroyed petroglyphs
25 August 2011
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) – A 21-year-old Arizona man has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for shooting paintballs at petroglyphs in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada.
Federal prosecutors announced Monday that David Smith of Bullhead City was also ordered to pay a nearly $10,000 fine. He must serve one year of supervised probation after his release and perform 50 hours of community service.
Smith pleaded guilty in May to unlawful defacement of an archaeological resource.
He told the court he shot paintball pellets at the Native American rock art near the Grapevine Canyon area in March 2010 after he saw signs warning that it was illegal to damage or deface them.
Colorado River Indian Tribes consider the area sacred.
