Oakhurst Man Sentenced for Excavating Native American Cultural Property

FRESNO, Calif. — Vance Franklin Myers, 35, of Oakhurst, was sentenced Tuesday by United States District Judge Ana de Alba to 3 years probation and a $10,000 fine for unauthorized excavation and removal of archeological resources from public lands, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.  Additionally, Myers was ordered to pay $10,023.48 in restitution, perform 100 hours of community service, make a public statement concerning his offense, and he is banned from entering public lands for recreational purposes during the period of his probation.

According to court documents, Myers entered upon public lands in Madera County that were administered by the United States Forest Service and unlawfully excavated Native American cultural artifacts and Native American human remains.  Artifacts removed from the site included beads, manos, rosegates, and desert side notched points.  This occurred between June 1, 2015 and September 3, 2015.  Excavating, damaging, and removing archaeological resources from federal and Native American lands without proper authorization is a violation of Federal law.

This case was the product of an investigation by the United States Forest Service. Assistant United States Attorney Laurel J. Montoya prosecuted the case.