Alan M. Thorkelson, 38, of Challis, Idaho, caved under federal scrutiny last month, pleading guilty to the unauthorized excavation of the Devil Canyon Archaeological Site, a sacred location tied to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. The admission marks the end of a two-year probe into the looting of tribal cultural property, culminating in a sentence handed down April 29, 2019, by U.S. District Judge David C. Nye.
Thorkelson was caught in October 2017 by law enforcement actively monitoring the site due to prior vandalism and graffiti. Surveillance revealed him digging at the protected location, disturbing remains that had lain undisturbed for centuries. The site, situated on federal land under the stewardship of the Bureau of Land Management, is recognized as a repository of ancestral heritage for the Shoshone-Bannock people.
Judge Nye ordered Thorkelson to pay $2,000 in restitution for the damage caused. At the hearing, Thorkelson offered a public apology to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, though tribal leaders and federal prosecutors emphasized that remorse doesn’t erase the irreversible harm done to cultural history.
“These archaeological resources are of particular significance to tribal communities. The looting of these resources is especially harmful,” said Mary D’Aversa, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Falls District Manager. “We aggressively pursue those individuals who commit these violations of law.”
U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis echoed that stance, stating, “My office is dedicated to protecting archaeological resources on public and tribal lands. I commend the BLM and the Custer County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this important case.” Federal law under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act treats such acts as felonies when remains older than 100 years are disturbed, excavated, or defaced without authorization.
The case was investigated by the BLM with support from the Custer County Sheriff’s Office. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes fully backed the prosecution, underscoring the ongoing battle to defend ancestral sites from desecration. For information on cultural resource regulations, the public is directed to contact the BLM Idaho Falls District Office at (208) 524-7500.
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Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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