YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — On Tuesday, March 25, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming, announced three separate sentencings for public land violations that happened inside Yellowstone National Park (YNP).
Douglas Wolfley, 49, of Fairview, Wyoming, was sentenced to a 10-day term of incarceration with credit for 2 days served after pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in YNP. According to the press release, he also pled guilty to possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
In addition to the term of incarceration, Wolfley was placed on three years of unsupervised probation, terms of which include a ban from YNP during that period, and was ordered to pay $3,050 in fines and court costs.
Angela Flaherty, 44, of Seattle, Washington, was sentenced to a seven-day term of incarceration after pleading guilty to violating YNP’s Travel on Trails law, which requires all foot travel in thermal areas of YNP be confined to marked trails or boardwalks.
According to the press release, Flaherty left the boardwalk and viewing area surrounding Old Faithful geyser and walked approximately 10 feet onto the cone of Old Faithful. Some of her conduct was captured on video by another park visitor.
In addition to the term of incarceration, Flaherty was ordered to pay $40 in mandatory court costs.
Yiyang Shen, 25, of Doraville, Georgia, was sentenced to a seven-day term of incarceration and five years of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban from YNP, after he drove off the designated roadway and parked his vehicle in a thermal area in the Park.
According to the press release, Shen was charged with operating a motor vehicle in a prohibited area in a manner that caused damage to Park resources, in addition to being charged with foot travel in a thermal area not confined to any designated and marked trail or boardwalk.
In addition to the terms of incarceration and probation, Shen was ordered to pay $1,050 in fines and court costs.
Visitors should always be aware of regulations and laws in YNP.
“These regulations help us protect Park resources while also providing you a safe and enjoyable experience,” YNP writes on its website.
