Graffiti art left Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, by Casey Nocket. Photo courtesy of creepytings on Tumblr.
Let Casey Nocket be a cautionary tale for adventurous artists looking to turn the great outdoors into their canvas.
The 23-year-old, who was caught posting Instagram photos of paintings she created in US national parks in 2014 with the tag creepytings, pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of damaging government property in a federal court in Fresno, California, on Monday. She was sentenced to two years probation, according to the Denver Post.
Over a period of 26 days, Nocket hit up seven national parks, leaving in her wake a series of graffiti drawings in marker and acrylic on rock formations. Because Nocket documented the vandalism on social media, it was easy to track her movements and identify the sites of her crimes. (Like other street artists who have been accused of vandalizing national parks, Nocket was widely criticized for her actions.)
A Casey Nocket drawing in a National Park. Courtesy of screenshots of Casey Nocket’s deleted Instagram account.
The case was brought by the US Attorney’s office, which charged that Nocket “willfully injured and committed depredations against property of the United States by damaging, and defacing rocks on land administered by the National Park Service” in the Death Valley, Rocky Mountain, Canyonlands, Yosemite, and Zion national parks, as well as Colorado National Monument.
According to court documents, the Parks Department has not been able to remove at least two of Nocket’s artworks, including a painting made at the summit of Telescope Peak in Death Valley National Park.
Casey Nocket drawing in a National Park. Courtesy of screenshots of Casey Nocket’s deleted Instagram account.
While Nocket is on probation, she is tasked with completing 200 community service hours. During this time, she is not permitted to visit National Parks or lands administered by the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Army Corps of Engineers.
According to Courthouse News, there will be a hearing at a future date “to determine restitution.” By agreement from the judge and the US Attorney’s office, Nocket was not fined for her offenses.
Casey Nocket drawings in a National Park. Courtesy of screenshots of Casey Nocket’s deleted Instagram account.