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- Colorado residents Roxanne McKnight and Dusty Spencer face federal charges for theft and disruption at Canyonlands National Park.
- They allegedly entered a restricted area, handling and taking artifacts from the Cave Spring Cowboy Camp.
- The site contains historic and prehistoric artifacts, with clear warnings prohibiting entry.
MOAB — A pair of Colorado residents are facing federal charges tied to a theft and disruption incident at an archeological site at Canyonlands National Park reported earlier this year.
Roxanne McKnight, 39, and Dusty Spencer, 43, both of Durango, Colorado, were charged in U.S. District Court Monday with theft of government property (less than $1,000), as well as possessing or distributing cultural/archaeological resources and walking on or entering archaeological/cultural resource, all misdemeanor offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The charges were filed months after Canyonlands National Park officials reported an incident at the Cave Spring Cowboy Camp on the park's Cave Spring Trail on March 23. A National Park Service trail camera placed outside the site captured a man and a woman entering a fenced-off area before handling "numerous historic artifacts" from the site, according to federal prosecutors.
A charging document states antique nails were also taken from the site.
Park rangers posted screenshots of the two in May, asking for help identifying them as they investigated the case. In a statement at the time, park officials wrote that the two "removed artifacts from a cabinet and handled historic harnesses in a manner that had potential to damage them." Information gathered since then led to the charges.
Cave Spring Cowboy Camp features a mix of historic and prehistoric artifacts, according to park officials. The site features various "original" artifacts from camps set up by pioneer cattlemen between the late 1800s through 1975 when cattle ranching stopped at the park.
"The cowboys cooked over an open fire, using Dutch ovens and other simple cookware," park historians wrote, describing the site. "Cowboys established the camp at Cave Spring because of the reliable water source. Rainwater percolating through layers of porous sandstone forms these seeps. Moisture hastens erosion of the rock face and carves alcoves."
Prehistoric rock markings from indigenous tribes who lived 6,000 to 700 years ago also exist at the site. Both are why the park's website asks that people "do not enter the camp, touch or remove the objects." Park officials add, "entering, touching or climbing on archeological sites is strictly prohibited."
Prosecutors said there are "clear warnings prohibiting visitors from entering the area."
Neither McKnight nor Spencer have any criminal history in Utah, according to state court records. Both are scheduled to make an initial appearance at the U.S. District Court in Moab on Friday.
