Owner of Andersen Hitches vandalizes in Arches NP

[OTRA15]

Good points, Gene, thanks!

Peter

[PKI]

The best prosecution is not to recommend or purchase his products. Tell all the RVers you talk with that there are good alternatives. Tell your family and friends that protecting public land from vandals is everyone's responsibility. Pat

[OTRA15]

In case you thought that the U. S. Attorney's Office in SLC had taken the summer off . . . . . . FYI they just issued a press release for a conviction, which is unrelated to the Ryan Andersen graffiti.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr

Justice can be slow . . .

Happy trails,

Peter

[eagletoo]

Way to go, Peter!!

[zapper]

Anderson is a case where "lights-on" "nobody home". It is absolutely stunning what otherwise rational people do when they leave the city and go to our national parks. Albeit Anderson is just one example. I have seen cases in our parks where "adults" (with children) do things like: 1) Go pet the bear; 2) Play matador with bison; 3) Play tag with a bull elk.

I am not sure there is a cure for this kind of stupidity except letting them succumb to their own foolishness. Being helpful by warning these demented folks can be dangerous to you. I know. Now, I just phone the nearest Park Ranger station and let them deal with it and just shake by head in disbelief and walk away.

[OTRA15]

Justice may be slow, but here you go!

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/a...estitution-blm

"As a part of the plea agreement, Andersen agreed to pay the maximum fine of $1,000, full restitution of $858.32 to the Bureau of Land Management, and a processing fee of $30. Andersen also agreed to release a statement advocating the responsible use of public lands as a part of the plea agreement. (A copy of the statement is attached to this release.)
. . .
"Andersen’s guilty plea will be held in abeyance for a period of 18 months. During that period, the defendant is prohibited from entering or using any public land administered by the BLM, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The defendant can use public roads traversing public lands for necessary travel."

Go to link above to read the full press release, and Andersen's statement.

Yes!

[Rocinante]

Should have cost him a lot more, but it’ll have to do. Nice when the founder / CEO of an outdoor-oriented company like his is also a convicted misdemeanor vandal and banned from Federal public land.

[Wayne&Sam]

Good to hear!

But really, they ought to raise the maximum fine.

Given his pledge to advocate, it would be good to see him do more than required (issuing a statement). It would be good to see him include the statement on their web site and in any promotional materials.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

Good to hear!

But really, they ought to raise the maximum fine.

Given his pledge to advocate, it would be good to see him do more than required (issuing a statement). It would be good to see him include the statement on their web site and in any promotional materials.

I agree. The Andersen Hitches website does not have any new "News" items yet.

Spread the word . . .

"If you see something, say something!"

Have a good weekend.

Peter

PS -- Well said, Rocinante:

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Should have cost him a lot more, but it’ll have to do. Nice when the founder / CEO of an outdoor-oriented company like his is also a convicted misdemeanor vandal and banned from Federal public land.

[SteveSueMac]

Ok. It’s a resolution. It’s a start.

I still won’t advertise for him, even though I loved his levelers.

Thanks for posting.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Rzrbrn

Nothing of substance will happen.

Don't forget Cliven Bundy and Claude Dallas, both examples of the attitude of people in the west toward Federal government. Also Andersen is probably a strong monetary contributor to a political party.

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

They may have more pressing issues...

Just wondering if you have heard about the new guilty plea?

[OTRA15]

Nothing yet in the Moab Times, although they did just report on the closing of False Kiva in another park:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ks-134458.html

Here is their original Andersen article from April:

http://www.moabtimes.com/view/full_s...photo-online-?

Other news reports starting up:

Nice headline: https://www.ksl.com/article/46380890...theastern-utah
https://www.uspress.news/andersen-pl...tution-to-blm/

[McDave]

Face it, it's a slap on the wrist. I once paid an $18,000 penalty to the IRS on behalf of a client who had violated a particular tax law. He paid the additional taxes, which were substantially more than that, but I was stuck with the penalty. We didn't agree that we had violated any tax law, but the attorney wanted a retainer of $100,000 up front before he took it to Tax Court. Didn't make sense to us, so we paid it. Not asking for any sympathy, just trying to put things in perspective.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Just wondering if you have heard about the new guilty plea?

No. Much more urgent things going on in my neck of the woods. I wish graffiti was our worst problem.

[21Airstream]

Originally Posted by McDave

Face it, it's a slap on the wrist. I once paid an $18,000 penalty to the IRS on behalf of a client who had violated a particular tax law. He paid the additional taxes, which were substantially more than that, but I was stuck with the penalty. We didn't agree that we had violated any tax law, but the attorney wanted a retainer of $100,000 up front before he took it to Tax Court. Didn't make sense to us, so we paid it. Not asking for any sympathy, just trying to put things in perspective.

I hate to hear of this kind of abuse but I know it happens way too often.

[OTRA15]

PS — FYI more news links:

https://fox13now.com/2018/08/24/lear...pleads-guilty/
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/...tern-utah.html
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/08/...man-pays-fine/

[Martee]

Finally a legal resolution to the Anderson case. Interestingly, I may have seen the Anderson ban being enforced this week at Carlsbad Caverns. A family named Anderson in front of me purchased tickets and the National Park Ranger asked them if they were "....Anderson from Idaho" and requested drivers license. I didn't think anything of it at the time....until I read the outcome of the Anderson case today.

Peter, Thank You for taking the lead and keeping everyone on Airstream Forums fully updated on this case.

[Rocinante]

I'm very disappointed that not one of these reports noted who this guy is from a business perspective: the founder and CEO of Andersen Towing Products.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Martee

Finally a legal resolution to the Anderson case. Interestingly, I may have seen the Anderson ban being enforced this week at Carlsbad Caverns. A family named Anderson in front of me purchased tickets and the National Park Ranger asked them if they were "....Anderson from Idaho" and requested drivers license. I didn't think anything of it at the time....until I read the outcome of the Anderson case today.
. . .

Thank you for this remarkable report . . . it seems as if the public shaming mentioned earlier may be quietly alive and well. If the federal government has Andersen on some kind of watch list already, that would be a stunning development IMO.



About your other comment . . . happy to help . . . thanks.

Peter

PS - Rocinante, his father may have been the founder of the company and original source of the various product designs? If so, perhaps the press reports are simply being careful and responsible. There may be more family dynamics going on behind the scenes IMO, and the son's longevity at the company should not be taken for granted IMO.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Martee

. . .
...until I read the outcome of the Anderson case today.
. . .

PS -- The correct spelling is Andersen, just so this thread does not have to go around that circle again. [See Post #122 et seq.]