Men in video of Goblin Valley rock toppling charged

Men in video of Goblin Valley rock toppling charged

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SALT LAKE CITY – Two men whose involvement in toppling a rock formation in Goblin Valley State Park were formally charged Friday.

Glen Taylor, 45, was charged Friday with criminal mischief, a third-degree felony and David Benjamin Hall, 42, was charged with aiding and assisting in criminal mischief, also third-degree felony, in relation to the October rock toppling at the state park, according to court documents.

Hall recorded the video of fellow Boy Scout leader Glenn Taylor, of Highland, Utah, pushing a hoodoo from its perch while laughing and joking during a Scouting trip.

“We’ve said what needed to be said in the past, we’ve apologized, we’ve said we’re sorry, (and) we’re happy to see this thing coming to an end,” Hall said Friday. “We’re just not going to be making any interview appointments, statements, anything. What’s said has already been said.”

The men claim the rock was posing a danger to the troop, but the tone in the viral video has sparked outrage across the nation, resulting in hate mail and death threats for the men.

“We can’t undo anything, so we’re moving on,” Hall said. "Neither one of us were out there intending to do illegal activity. It just made sense to us at the time — remove the danger so that we don't have to hear about somebody dying."

The case has been under investigation since October and the Boy Scouts of America has removed Hall and Taylor as leaders.

It has also led to legislation that would make any intentional act that causes damage, defacement, excavation, permanent alteration, or destruction of any division resource a third-degree felony, if the damage is $1,500 or greater.

The men could face up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines and restitution. Taylor and Hall are scheduled to appear in 7th District Court in Castle Dale on March 18.

Contributing: McKenzie Romero

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