Petroglyph vandal gets probation, nearly $15,000 in fines

A southern Utah woman who pleaded guilty to defacing a petroglyph panel on federal land in Kane County has been sen­tenced to probation and ordered to pay nearly $15,000 in fines and restitution.

Image courtesy of Kane County Sheriff’s Department.

The case drew wide atten­tion last year after hikers reported fresh carvings over an an­cient design near the junction of Buckskin Gulch and Wire Pass, an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management. South­ern Utah News first reported on Ericksen’s arrest on November 27, 2024.

Federal prosecutors said Daniela Ganas­sim Ericksen, 47, of Ivins, carved her name and other markings directly into the rock surface on November 23, 2024. Archaeolo­gists documented the damage soon after, noting that the panel was part of a known cultural site and was protected under fed­eral law. Ericksen later admitted to the vandalism in U.S. Dis­trict Court.

Judge David Nuffer sentenced Ericksen on November 17 to one year of probation and ordered her to pay a total of $14,853. About $11,853 of that amount covers the estimated cost of repairing and stabilizing the panel. The remainder is a fine. Ericksen is also barred from entering any BLM land while on probation and must send a written apology to tribes with ancestral ties to the site.

BLM officials said the sentence reflects the seriousness of damaging cultural resources in the re­gion. Archaeologists involved in the case said restoration will be difficult and may not completely return the panel to its origi­nal appearance. The agency continues to monitor the site and is working with partners to determine the best approach for long-term preservation.

Federal officials not­ed that vandalism cas­es on public lands are increasing, and they encouraged visitors to report suspicious activity. Anyone with information about van­dalism on protected sites can contact the BLM tip line or local law enforcement.