| 06/19/2001 | Illegal Trail Builders to Stand TrialA federal grand jury indicted Michael More, William McBride, and Neal Daskal, charging them with conspiracy to injure federal property and causing injury to federal property. The three were charged with constructing an illegal bicycle trail in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). It is in an area east of Bolinas Ridge, in an area not open to bicycles.
The indictment alleges that the trio were caught building a portion of the bicycle trail in the Bolinas Ridge area and More was caught cutting down trees. The indictment also alleges that More and McBride worked on the trail on at least two other occasions before then.
The GGNRA is part of the Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve, designated by the United Nations based on its significant biodiversity and ecological value. Portions of the GGNRA provide habitat for species listed on the Endangered Species Act, such as the northern spotted owl, Coho salmon, steelhead trout, California red-legged frog, and California freshwater shrimp The Bolinas Ridge area, where the illegal trail was built, includes an undeveloped Douglas fir and California bay forest which provides habitat for the threatened northern spotted owl.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. For injuring federal property, the maximum penalties are 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalties for unlawfully cutting trees on federal property are one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
The three pled not guilty.www.cyclecalifornia.com
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