California woman is sentenced for vandalizing national parks
A woman was sentenced this week after pleading guilty to vandalizing several national parks, where she defaced rock formations with her art and signature tagline “creepytings.”
Casey Nocket, 23, was ordered to serve two years’ probation and 200 hours of community service after pleading guilty to seven misdemeanor charges, according to the National Park Service.
She was banned from entering any national park while serving her sentence and will be required to pay restitution, which will be determined at a hearing at a later date.
Nocket spent 26 days in 2014 traveling to seven locations in California, Oregon, Utah and Colorado, where she used acrylic paints and markers to draw or paint designs that she later posted online to her Instagram and Tumblr accounts.
The accounts have been taken down, but several sites — including PetaPixal — had posted copies of the photos online. According to that website, the graffiti was discovered and reported to authorities after two bloggers in California saw the postings.
Acting U.S. Atty. Philip Talbert said Nocket’s “art” reflected a “lack of respect for the law and our shared national treasures.”
Talbert said the National Park Service “has worked hard to restore the rock formations to their natural state,” and that five of seven parks have been cleaned up, with two more remaining to be worked on as weather permits.
Charles Cuvelier, who heads up law enforcement for the National Park Service, said the case “sends a message to those who would consider such inappropriate behavior going forward.”
The areas that were vandalized include Yosemite, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain, Canyonlands, Zion and Crater Lake national parks and the Colorado National Monument.
debbi.baker@sandiegouniontribune.com
Baker writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune
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