Men enter plea in artifact thefts
A father and son from Northern California have pleaded not guilty to charges alleging that they illegally collected Indian artifacts in Nevada.
Donald Parker, who is 69, and his 42-year-old son, Steven Parker, were arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Sacramento.
They are charged with conspiracy, possessing stolen federal property, interstate transportation and transporting artifacts taken from public lands.
Assistant Federal Defender Lauren Day Cusick, representing Steven Parker, said she had no further information on the case and could not immediately comment.
Prosecutors say the men, who live in the Sacramento suburb of Folsom, collected projectile points and other stone tools from federal and private land in northern Nevada.
Federal prosecutors would not offer a more specific location.
The artifacts were taken between 2002 and 2007 and stored in their home.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The men were released without bond pending a Dec. 5 court hearing.
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