highlights from Thursday, NOVEMBER 13

Senior graffiti artist

A 60-year-old man pleaded guilty last week for spraying graffiti on a rock in Jasper National Park.

Fred Harder of Winnipeg, M.B., had recently been married and was on his way through the park when he decided it would be romantic to paint his name and the name of his new wife on a rock at Beauty Flats, said defense attorney Laurie Rodger.

The accused was not present in court, but Rodger said on his behalf that Harder didn’t think he was hurting anyone and had hoped he would be able to come back in the future and see the names painted in the park. Harder was charged $300 in restitution for the estimated cost of removing the paint, plus a $100 fine. 

Attempted antler export

An Idaho man pleaded guilty in court last week after he was caught at the border trying to travel home with elk antlers he picked up in Jasper National Park.

Justin Gibbins, 21, was stopped when a customs officer noticed a large set of antlers, valued at about $1,000, in his truck as he tried to cross the border into the United States.

Prosecutor Kent Brown said through DNA evidence and photographs, wardens were able to determine that the antlers were from a wolf kill in Jasper National Park, and that Gibbins had not shot the elk. However, he added, Gibbins was fully aware of the laws restricting the removal of antlers from a national park, as records showed he had been pulled over outside the park in 2006 and cautioned with regard to the regulations.

Defense attorney Laurie Rodgers said Gibbins had no intention of selling the antlers as he collects them as a hobby, and that his young age, the fact his wife is pregnant and he owns a company should be considered. Gibbins was fined $1,000 and forced to forfeit the antlers.