Vandalism & Trespass Prosecuted
05-Nov-2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 5, 2004
State of Utah School & Institutional
TRUST LANDS ADMINISTRATION
VANDALISM AND TRESPASS ON TRUST LANDS SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED
Eddie Thompson was found guilty on October 20, 2004, by the Grand County Justice Court of Moab, Utah, of illegal trespass and littering. The land, belonging to the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, was illegally occupied by Thompson between November 1, 2003, and September 20, 2004. Trust Lands regulations limit occupancy of trust lands to15 consecutive days.The Trust Lands Administration's investigator, Ron Barton, surveyed the trespass site and said that the damage was considerable. Barton is an investigator from the Utah Attorney General's Office who is actively pursuing thefts of resources from trust lands. This includes trespassing, property damage and destruction, archeological site trespass and damage, and illegal occupancy of land.
As a law-enforcement officer, Barton aggressively pursues prosecution in these areas. This will aid in documented investigations that could lead to more criminal convictions, orders for criminal restitution, civil judgments, and increase in damage restitution from offenders.
The School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration is an independent state agency which manages 3.5 million acres of Utah trust lands for the benefit of Utah's schools and other public institutions.
CONTACT:
School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration
NormaLee McMichael 801-538-5105 or
Dave Hebertson 801-538-5102