Men arrested for damaging 140 million year old rock formations at Lake Mead in Nevada

Two men in their 30s have been indicted by a federal grand jury for damaging ancient rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada this April.

A video posted to social media apparently showed the two men – identified by the United States’ Attorney’s Office for District of Nevada as 37-year old Wyatt Clifford Fain and 31-year-old Payden David Guy Cosper – toppling natural rock formations from the top of a cliff in the Redstone Dunes area. That incident reportedly occurred April 7.

“National parks are some of the most special, treasured, and protected areas of our country. To protect these natural and cultural resources for this and future generations, all visitors to national parks are expected to follow park laws and regulations and practice leave no trace principles to minimize their impact on park lands,” said the National Park Service in a press release about the incident .

CBS News reported that the rock formations are 140 million years old. Lake Mead itself is a reservoir that was formed by the creation of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s.

“Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located in a historically geologically active region of the planet. Over time the region has been subjected to earthquakes, volcanoes and from time to time overrun by shallow inland seas,” the NPS explained . “In the Precambrian era (4 billion years ago to 570 million years ago) our planet looked quite different. The region just to the west of Lake Mead was the edge of the continent of what will become North America.”

In the indictment, Fain and Cosper are accused of causing damages in excess of $1,000. They were each charged with one count of injury and depredation of government property and one count of aiding and abetting. The United States Marshals Service arrested both men.

“There were no signs posted at the entrance prohibiting pushing rocks or that it was a federally a protected site,” said Ross Goodman, an attorney representing Cosper, as cited by CNN . In a statement sent to the outlet, Goodman said that his client did not know that pushing the boulder was illegal until the U.S. Marshalls showed up at his door.

“The justice system presumes that all accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law. This applies to Mr. Fain,” said his attorney, Brian Pugh, per CNN.

Fain and Cosper made their initial court appearance last Friday before United States Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe. Now, a jury trial has been scheduled for Oct. 8 before United States District Judge Jennifer Dorsey.

Both Fain and Cosper face up to 10 years in prison if they are found guilty. Assistant United States Attorney Skyler Pearson is prosecuting the case.