Idaho officials seek pictograph vandals

LEWISTON, Idaho — Law enforcement officials in northern Idaho say they have interviewed people who may be responsible for vandalism to ancient tribal pictographs near Lewiston's Hells Gate State Park.

Alan Johnson, chief deputy for the Nez Perce County sheriff's office, said investigators plan to interview others who may have taken part in February in spray-painting graffiti on the red pigment pictographs that archaeologists believe are at least 2,500 years old.

He said results of the investigation will be turned over to prosecutors. Nez Perce County Prosecutor Dan Spickler said the U.S. attorney's office will likely handle the case.

Damaging pictographs violates the federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, which calls for criminal penalties up to $20,000 and two years in prison.

"It was straight malicious vandalism of a Nez Perce specific site," said Brooklyn Baptiste, vice chairman of the tribe's executive committee. "You can tell someone put some focused effort on destroying it. It's just like vandalizing someone's headstone. It is that level of maliciousness we see."

The graffiti at the Red Elk Rock Shelter includes references to marijuana, with the words "Vote to Toke," and a pot leaf with "Ganga" written below. There are also peace signs, the initials T.C., and the names Freddy B and "Kotton Mouth Kings," a marijuana-themed rap band.

Aaron Miles Sr. is the natural resources director for the tribe and said a harsh penalty should be given to those responsible to deter future vandalism.

"If it's somehow reduced to where you can't set an example, more people are going to keep doing this," he said.