Woman sentenced to jail, fined for stepping off trail at Yellowstone geyser

A woman has been fined and sentenced to a week in jail for stepping off a trail at Yellowstone National Park.

Madeline Casey, 26, was sentenced by Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman on Aug. 18 to jail time and $1,000 fine. She was also forced to pay $40 in fees and needs to make a $1,000 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Resource Fund, acting U.S. Attorney Bob Murray announced Wednesday.

Casey and two other individuals were going to the thermal pool and geyser at Norris Geyser Basin when she and one of her friends started walking on the thermal ground, despite signs telling tourists to stay on the path and forbidding them from doing so. 

“Boardwalks in geyser basins protect visitors and delicate thermal formations,” Yellowstone National Park Public Affairs Officer Morgan Warthin said. “The ground is fragile and thin and scalding water just below the surface can cause severe or fatal burns. More than 20 people have died from burns suffered after they entered or fell into Yellowstone’s hot springs.”  

Other people began taking pictures of the trio of friends after two of them went off the designated path. It is not clear if Casey’s friend also faced any consequences.

“For those who lack a natural ability to appreciate the dangerousness of crusty and unstable ground, boiling water, and scalding mud, the National Park Service does a darn good job of warning them to stay on the boardwalk and trial in thermal areas,” Murray said. 

“Yet there will always be those like Ms. Casey who don’t get it. Although a criminal prosecution and jailtime may seem harsh, it’s better than spending time in a hospital’s burn unit,” he added.

Casey’s case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hambrick.