Michigan man banned from Yellowstone National Park and facing federal charges after traveling off-tr

Also: Michigan Man Sustains Thermal Burns in Yellowstone National Park (U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming)

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Source: CNN

Michigan man banned from Yellowstone National Park and facing federal charges after traveling off-trail in a thermal area while under influence

By Sara Smart, CNN
Updated 11:00 PM EDT, Thu August 24, 2023

(CNN) — A Yellowstone National Park visitor who was allegedly under the influence as he traveled off-trail in one of the park’s thermal areas has been banned from the park as he faces federal criminal charges in the incident, prosecutors announced.

Jason Wicks, a 49-year-old resident of Hillman, Michigan, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of off-trail travel and being under the influence “to the degree he was a danger to himself or others,” the US District Attorney’s Office in Wyoming said in a news release. He has pleaded not guilty.

Wicks was charged with thermal trespass and being under the influence of alcohol dangerous to self or others, according to court documents.

Wicks suffered a non-life-threatening injury to his foot during the Tuesday night incident, DA’s office spokesperson Lori Hogan told CNN. The release said Wicks sustained thermal burns.

As part of the conditions of his release, Wicks is banned from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks until the case is resolved, prosecutors said.

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Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/24/us/yellowstone-park-man-banned-off-trail-under-influence/index.html

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Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming

Michigan Man Sustains Thermal Burns in Yellowstone National Park

Thursday, August 24, 2023
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming

Jason D. Wicks, age 49, of Hillman, Michigan, was arraigned in federal court on August 23, 2023, facing criminal charges of off-trail travel in a Yellowstone National Park thermal area and being under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the degree he was a danger to himself or others. Wicks pleaded not guilty to the charges. As part of the conditions for release, Wicks is banned from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks until these criminal charges are resolved. This incident remains under investigation. A trial date has not been set.

The violation notice merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

In a statement, Yellowstone National Park officials said that the ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Therefore, everyone must remain on boardwalks and trails and exercise extreme caution around Yellowstone’s thermal features. ...

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Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wy/pr/michigan-man-sustains-thermal-burns-yellowstone-national-park