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Idaho man pays fine for scratching graffiti in Utah’s Corona Arch, says he hopes ‘others can learn from my mistakes’

An Idaho man will have to cough up cash and endure some public humiliation after pleading guilty to scratching graffiti in southern Utah’s Corona Arch.

Ryan Bird Andersen, 45, has reached an agreement and pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of defacing a natural feature, U.S. Attorney for Utah John W. Huber’s office announced Friday.

Andersen has agreed to pay the maximum fine of $1,000, as well as $858.32 in restitution to the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the arch formation near Moab, and a $30 processing fee.

The Idaho Falls man also made a public statement to apologize and take responsibility for his actions.