Goblin toppling may become serious crime in Utah

Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A Utah lawmaker is hoping to institute new sanctions against people who choose to damage rock formations in Goblin Valley State Park after two Boy Scout leaders knocked over an ancient natural monument seven weeks ago.

"I was like most people. This can't be happening. Why would you do this?" said Rep. Dixon Pitcher to KUTV. "This is catastrophic destruction of items that are just not replaceable." In a video that they uploaded to YouTube in October, Dave Hall and Glenn Taylor can be been seen celebrating and dancing after knocking over the millions-of-years-old Goblin rock formation.

Boy Scouts of America removed them from their leadership positions, and revoked their BSA membership. A criminal investigation is underway and the two men could face felonies.

After the incident, the two men defended what they had done. "Some little kid was going to walk down here and die, and Glenn saved his life by getting the boulder out of the way," Hall said.

Pitcher still wants them punished. "We need something in place that really deals with something of this level of destruction. We're going to arrest them. We're going to put them in prison if we can." He is hoping to impose a fine of $15,000 or $20,000.

He hopes the bill will be ready to bring before the Legislature in January.

"How do you restore what they destroyed? How do you put that back in place? You can't," Pitcher said. "A $200 fine just doesn't fit the crime. Hopefully it will put the fear of God in anybody else that does this. Especially if you put it on YouTube and we find out who are you, we're gonna get you on the next time."

[KUTV]