Tourist convicted of thermal trespass near Yellowstone geyser

A 21-year-old Washington man was sentenced June 4 to seven days in jail for trespassing near Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park while attempting to take photos.

Viktor Pyshniuk, of Lynwood, Washington, was also sentenced to two years of unsupervised release, fined $1,500 along with court costs and banned from the park for two years.

“Trespassing into closed thermal areas of Yellowstone National Park is dangerous and harms natural resources,” Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann said in a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming. “In cases like this where we have strong evidence demonstrating that a person deliberately ignored signs and entered a closed spa area, federal prosecutors will seek significant sanctions, including prison time.”