Theodore Eugene Garland, Unauthorized Yellowstone Park Guide, Wyoming 2021

Grimy Times has learned that Theodore Eugene Garland, a 60-year-old man from Edmond, Oklahoma, has been sentenced for his part in leading unauthorized guided tours in Yellowstone National Park.

Garland appeared in front of Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman in Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming on July 2, 2021, for the sentencing.

According to Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray, Garland was found guilty on seven counts of illegal activities and violations in Yellowstone National Park. These activities included providing unauthorized guided tours, trespassing on thermal grounds, violating swimming closures and cliff jumping, creating ‘hot pots in rivers,’ and disturbing wildlife.

Garland’s social-media page, podcast, and guidebook all featured overlapping pictures and posts about his guided tours in YNP, which encouraged visitors to engage in the same activities he was found guilty of.

Garland was charged with 15 counts of illegal activities and violating national park regulations. After a bench trial held on April 7 and 8, 2021, Judge Carman found Garland guilty on seven counts.

At sentencing, the government requested that Garland be imprisoned for 30 days, served concurrently, on all counts; pay a fine of $750 for each count; make a Community Service Payment of $750 for each count; five years of unsupervised probation; and that he receive a ban from Yellowstone National Park for five years.

However, Judge Carman ultimately sentenced Garland on the seven counts to seven days in jail, a total of $600 in fines and fees, a one-time payment of $500 to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Resource Fund, and a ban from Yellowstone National Park until December 31, 2021. Garland was also ordered to write an introduction/forward to his guidebook communicating respect for the park and removing references of illegal activity by July 16, 2021. Garland will serve five years of unsupervised probation and shall ‘not promote violations of laws in the national parks in any way.’

‘Enforcing federal criminal laws for the protection of our national parks’ resources will always remain a priority of the United States Attorney’s office in Wyoming,’ said Acting United States Attorney, Bob Murray. ‘That is especially true when a criminal motivated by greed, like Mr. Garland, encourages others to commit more crimes and cause more damage to the treasures of America’s first national park.’

This case was handled by the National Park Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Hambrick.

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