Man Left Path to Take Photos at Yellowstone, Now He’ll Serve Time

Yellowstone National Park announced that a Washington man went off the path and is now facing penalties, including jail time and fines, for trespassing.

Viktor Pyshniuk of Lynwood, Washington, crossed a fence and approached Steamboat Geyser, prompting a park employee to report him to law enforcement.

Pyshniuk claimed he left the boardwalk to take photos, despite numerous signs warning of the dangers and illegality of leaving the designated path.

A judge sentenced Pyshniuk to seven days in jail, two years of unsupervised release, a two-year Yellowstone ban, and fines totaling $1,550.

The judge hopes this sentence will deter others from similar actions, emphasizing that rule violations could lead to the park's destruction and endanger visitors.