News Release

Update: Woman sentenced for vandalism in several National Park Service sites

The woman who defaced several NPS sites in 2014 has been sentenced in federal court.

NPS image by the Investigative Services Branch

News Release Date: June 13, 2016

Contact: NPS Investigative Services Branch, [phone]

 Update: Woman sentenced for vandalism in several National Park Service sites

The woman who defaced sites within several national parks in 2014 pleaded guilty today to seven misdemeanor counts of damaging government property. Casey Nocket, age 23, was ordered by a federal judge to serve two years of probation and 200 hours of community service. She is also banned from all lands administered by the National Park Service (NPS), US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Army Corps of Engineers during her probation period.

An ISB Special Agent, aided by the ISB Intelligence Analyst, conducted the lengthy investigation, bringing forth a strong case to an Assistant US Attorney for prosecution. A hearing to determine the amount of restitution Nocket is required to pay will be held at a later date. 

According to court documents, Nocket damaged rock formations within seven national parks over a 26-day period, drawing or painting on them using acrylic paints and markers. She posted numerous pictures of her drawings on her social media accounts. The parks are in four federal districts: the Eastern District of California, the District of Oregon, the District of Utah, and the District of Colorado.

Acting US Attorney Philip Talbert stated, "The defendant's defacement of multiple rock formations showed a lack of respect for the law and our shared national treasures. The National Park Service has worked hard to restore the rock formations to their natural state, completing clean-up efforts in five of the seven parks. They expect to complete cleanup efforts at Death Valley in the near future and at Crater Lake as weather permits."

"This case illustrates the important role that the public can play in identifying and sharing evidence of illegal behavior in parks," said Charles Cuvelier, chief of Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Services (LESES) for the NPS. "It is clear that the public cares deeply for the special places that the National Park Service represents, and the resolution of this case sends a message to those who would consider such inappropriate behavior going forward."

Nocket's acts of vandalism included:

• Rocky Mountain National Park, September 12, 2014
• Colorado National Monument, September 13, 2014
• Canyonlands National Park, September 15, 2014
• Zion National Park, September 17, 2014
• Death Valley National Park, September 23, 2014
• Yosemite National Park, October 2, 2014
• Crater Lake National Park, October 7, 2014

If you see something suspicious in a National Park Service site, stay safe and tell us about it. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know:

• Call our Tip Line at 888-653-0009
• Submit an online Tip
• Email us
• Send us a Message on Facebook

ISB: the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service

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