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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Pierce Brosnan pleaded guilty on March 14, 2024, to “foot travel in a thermal area” at Yellowstone National Park. The court ordered a $500 fine and a $1,000 payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund; separate fees and an assessment brought his total court-ordered monetary obligations to $1,540.
What did Pierce Brosnan plead guilty to?
Brosnan pleaded guilty to the federal petty offense of “foot travel in a thermal area,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming. The conduct occurred on or about November 1, 2023, at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone. The Justice Department said Brosnan had posted Instagram photographs of himself standing on a thermal feature.
“Trespassing” is a convenient shorthand for the incident, but it is not the formal offense to which he pleaded guilty. The distinction matters: the conviction was for entering a thermal area on foot, rather than a general trespassing charge.
How much was Brosnan ordered to pay?
| Court-ordered amount | What it covered |
|---|---|
| $500 | Fine |
| $1,000 | Payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund |
| $30 | Court processing fee |
| $10 | Special assessment |
| $1,540 | Total of the four listed monetary obligations |
The $1,500 figure in many headlines adds the fine and Geological Fund payment. It excludes the additional $40 in processing fee and special assessment. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence in Mammoth, Wyoming.
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What happened to the other charge?
Prosecutors had asked the court to impose two years of probation and the maximum $5,000 fine. That was the prosecution’s request, not the sentence the judge imposed. The Associated Press reported that a second petty offense, for violating closures and use limits, was dismissed. Brosnan pleaded guilty to the thermal-area foot-travel offense.
Why are visitors kept on boardwalks at Mammoth Hot Springs?
Yellowstone’s thermal areas are hazardous as well as environmentally delicate. The National Park Service says the ground can be fragile and thin, with scalding water just below the surface. Leaving marked boardwalks and trails can endanger visitors and damage natural resources. Yellowstone was established primarily to protect its hydrothermal areas, the agency says. Its guidance is to stay on designated boardwalks and trails. The National Park Service’s case announcement explains the safety warning.
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What did Brosnan say afterward?
As reported by the Associated Press, Brosnan wrote in an Instagram apology, “I made an impulsive mistake.” He also said, “I deeply regret my transgression and offer my heartfelt apologies to all for trespassing in this sensitive area. Yellowstone and all our National Parks are to be cared for and preserved for all to enjoy.”
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