National Parks Vandal|Gets Off With Probation

SACRAMENTO (CN) — A San Diego woman who defaced rock formations in seven national parks and posted photos of it online was let off easy Monday when a federal judge sentenced her to two years probation and 200 hours of community service.

Casey Nocket, 23, pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of damaging government property. In addition to probation, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila Oberto ordered her to stay out of National Parks and lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the Army Corps of Engineers, while she is on probation.

Nocket defaced rock formations in seven national parks during a 26-day spree, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. She painted them with acrylic paints and markers, and posted photos online.

From Sept. 23 to Oct. 7, 2014, she defaced national property at the summit of Telescope Peak in Death Valley National Park; Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado; Colorado National Monument; Canyonlands National Park and Zion National Park, both in Utah; the John Muir Trail in Yosemite National Park; and Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.

A hearing to determine restitution will be held at a date not yet set.

Nocket claimed she was creating art.

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