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Man admits he dug artifacts from Reach siteThis story was published Oct. 26, 2001
A man has admitted in federal court that he dug American Indian artifacts from a site at the Hanford Reach National Monument. Theodore Albert Jensen Jr., 53 and no known address, pleaded guilty Oct. 17 to a misdemeanor charge in U.S. District Court in Yakima, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Thursday. Jensen was accused of violating the Archaeological Resource Protection Act of 1979, which prohibits the unauthorized removal or destruction of archaeological material from public or tribal land. Jensen reportedly was fishing along the Columbia River when he trespassed onto a recorded archaeological site that is several thousands years old, dug up some stone tools and other artifacts and left with the collection. The land, managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service, was found disturbed a short time later by federal agency and tribal cultural resource specialists doing routine site monitoring. Carleen Gonder, a Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement officer, reportedly found evidence that connected Jensen to the crime. "It's a shame. We're hoping to educate the public," said Jenna Gaston, cultural resource manager at the Hanford Reach. "I think the important thing is that it sets a precedent because it is very unusual to get a full conviction this rapidly on a case like this." Jensen was fined $1,491.77 to cover the damage. Under the act, damage of more than $500 is a felony, but Jensen's admission was part of a plea agreement. The money will be used to restore the site in addition to public education and training for law enforcement and cultural resource personnel. The Umatilla, Yakama, Nez Perce and Wanapum tribes were involved in the case. | |