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Source: Federal Archeology 8(1):6 (1995)
(In the public domain)

PETROGLYPH LOOTERS SENTENCED


On March 13, three Arizona residents who illegally removed and sold petroglyphs
from a national forest were sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the
district of Arizona. The three earlier had pled guilty to violating the
Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA; 16 U.S.C. 470ee).


In January 1994 Adam Bruce sold four petroglyphs from Kaibab National Forest to
federal undercover agents. During conversations with the agents, Bruce admitted
that he knew his actions were illegal. He also implicated his father, John
Bruce, as the "mastermind" of their "business," which, in addition to the
looting of archeological goods, also included natural resources violations on
Forest Service lands, such as elk poaching and removing moss rock.


In February 1994, the younger Bruce removed five more petroglyphs from Kaibab
with a backhoe provided by Becky Whitted. Whitted helped load the petroglyphs
and transport them to Phoenix where, together with the elder Bruce, they sold
them to undercover agents for $1,500.


The court sentenced Adam Bruce to seven months in prison and 36 months
supervised release. John Bruce was given 36 months probation and Becky Whitted
received 24 months probation. The three were also ordered to pay over $7,600 in
restitution to the national forest. In addition, three pickup trucks used to
commit the violations were forfeited to the United States.


Law enforcement personnel from the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management,
and Arizona Game and Fish Department cooperatively investigated the case. Paul
Charlton, assistant U.S. Attorney for the district of Arizona, served as the
lead prosecutor.


Submitted by: Tristine Lee Smart <tristine@t.imap.itd.umich.edu>


 

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