Two Colorado residents found themselves on the wrong side of the law and are now facing a year or more without the privilege of setting foot on federal public lands in Utah after a regrettable jaunt into protected territory at Canyonlands National Park. Roxanne McKnight, 39, and Dusty Spencer, 43, received their sentences for trespassing onto a historical site and fiddling with artifacts that weren't theirs to touch, an announcement coming from Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti, as reported by the Department of Justice.
Missteps were taken on March 23, 2024, when McKnight and Spencer ignored clear signs that barred entry to a park section and meddled with items preserved at the Cave Springs Cowboy Camp. McKnight walked away with a one-year ban on visiting federal lands in the Utah area. Spencer received a steeper consequence, a two-year ban with the same geographic restrictions. Both individuals will also endure respective probation periods.
In addition to the disciplinary actions, a U.S. Magistrate Judge fined the duo $1,500 each for their misdemeanors, which they pleaded guilty to, specifically possessing or disturbing cultural or archaeological resources and unauthorized access to archaeological or cultural resource sites.
The Cave Springs Cowboy Camp, which sports antique horse tack and cabinetry, among other historical treasures, was shielded by fencing and warning signs. However, these protective measures were apparently not a sufficient deterrent for the pair, whose actions prompted a response from the National Park Service, which spearheaded the investigation.
