Man, 62, Faces Count of Assault on Rangers

A High Desert man accused of threatening a National Park Service ranger with a rifle in the Mojave National Preserve as an 8-year-old boy stood in the line of fire was arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

Leo H. Spatziani, 62, was arrested Wednesday and charged with assaulting and impeding federal law enforcement officers.

“We’re very, very lucky that we didn’t have one or more people either injured or killed in this incident,” said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

Spatziani is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles without bail.

Spatziani and Robert C. Parker were approached by two rangers Saturday after authorities were alerted that Parker was using a trenching machine to dig in the preserve’s Cut Springs area, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Parker and the National Park Service dispute ownership of the area, where Parker was allegedly digging a trench to provide water to his cabin, Mrozek said. The desert springs location contains Indian archeological resources, according to the affidavit.

Ranger Tim Duncan told Parker to stop operating the trencher; Parker said the officers were trespassing.

As ranger Wayne Dingman Jr. photographed the scene, Parker yelled at him to leave. Spatziani allegedly pointed a loaded .30-caliber M1 carbine in Dingman’s direction. Parker’s son, Cody, stood between the two.

“Get off, this is private property!” Spatziani shouted, according to the affidavit.

Dingman took cover behind the cabin and drew his weapon.

Spatziani, who lives in a rural area east of Barstow, refused orders to drop his weapon, and the rangers eventually left. Spatziani did not intend to shoot the officers, he told an investigator Wednesday.

Parker was not arrested. If convicted, Spatziani could face 20 years in federal prison.