A Michigan man has been sentenced for tampering with and vandalizing Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a popular tourist destination known for its pristine beauty.
63-year-old Andrew Blair Howard of Sparta and Frankfort was convicted in February 2024 of two federal misdemeanors for his actions in August 2022.
According to court documents, Howard diverted the natural flow of the Platte River by digging up sediment and rocks, and building a makeshift dam to channel water towards Lake Michigan.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said, “Mr. Howard had a policy dispute with the National Park Service over whether to dredge the Platte River. Reasonable people can disagree on the best course of action, but Congress gave NPS the power to decide. While Mr. Howard had the right to disagree and advocate for his position, he did not have the right to take the law into his own hands and force his favored result. Doing so was a misdemeanor, and this sentence holds Mr. Howard accountable for his offense.”
Read: Last Defendant In Michigan Machine Gun And Drug Ring Sentenced
Howard received a sentence of five years probation and was ordered to pay $22,472.22 in restitution to the National Park Service and U.S. Coast Guard for the damage caused. He is also banned from entering any National Park Service property.pen_spark
Park officials reported receiving tips about the disrupted river and launched an investigation. The natural flow of the Platte River is vital to the health of the surrounding ecosystem.pen_spark
“Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was created in 1970 to preserve and protect this amazing place,” said Superintendent Scott Tucker. “The National Park Service appreciates the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in enforcing the laws that help protect this place for future generations.”
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