A California Doctor has been charged for looting ancient Native American artifacts from both tribal and public lands in places like Death Valley National Park and Sierra National Forest. On Monday a federal grand jury in Fresno California delivered a 21-count indictment against Jonathan Bourne for violating the Archaeological Resource Protection Act. Authorities had initially launched an investigation into Bourne when his hiking club’s website posted a picture of him digging a bow out of a glacier in the Sierra National Forest. U.S. Forest Service agents searched Mr. Bourne’s home and recovered a number of ancient items that included “obsidian cutting tools, three etched stone tablets, dart points, glass beads, and a juniper bow.” According to the indictment there are allegedly 32 specific items that Jonathan Bourne took, and if he is convicted he faces up to 98 years in prison and a $2.03 million fine.
See Elizabeth Warmedam, Doctor Charged With Looting Indian Burial Grounds, Courthouse News Service, October 6, 2015.
