A Connecticut woman who walked directly on thermal features at Yellowstone National Park in July was sentenced to seven days in jail, prosecutors said.
Madeline S. Casey, 26, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense, according to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming.
“Although a criminal prosecution and jail-time may seem harsh, it’s better than spending time in a hospital’s burn unit,” acting US Attorney Bob Murray said.
In July at the park’s Norris Geyser Basin, Casey and another person left a protective walkway, approached a thermal pool and walked directly on the ground.
Signs nearby instruct visitors to remain on the boardwalk. “The ground is fragile and thin and scalding water just below the surface can cause severe or fatal burns.
More than 20 people have died from burns suffered after they entered or fell into Yellowstone’s hot springs,” park spokesperson Morgan Warthin said in the statement.
A judge ordered Casey to pay $2,040 in fines, fees and community service, according to court documents. Her jail time must be served by January 31, 2022, and she is banned from the park during her two-year probation.
