doc's blog

David Lane Woolsey, and the pardoning of Heritage Crimes

2008-12-24T14:13:00.004+02:00

Ok, So I don't blog any more, no time. But this intrigued me deeply so I got to digging, and wanted to share.

In a press release from the DOJ, Bush announced a pardon for David Lane Woolsey of St. George Utah. He violated the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, served 3 years of probation and 100 hours of community service in 1992.

This led me to wonder, of all the people with unjust convictions why would Bush single out this guy to be one of 19? What did he do? Why would Bush choose to pardon someone who committed a Heritage related crime? With such minor consequences, why pardon?

Anyone who knows something about this situation, or has thoughts on the pardoning, please comment.

After a lot of difficult searching, I found this article in the Salt Lake Tribune that describes Woosley's crimes, but gives little reason for a Presidential Pardon. It states:

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Utah man pardoned is David Lane Woolsey, now of St. George. In 1992, Woolsey and co-defendant Jim Barney, both then of Escalante, received the first felony convictions in Utah under the 1979 U.S. Archaeological Resources Protection Act.

A call to a listing for Woolsey was not immediately returned.

The U.S. Attorney's office featured Woolsey's prosecution at a news conference in August 1992, hoping to draw attention to the destruction of sensitive historical digs in Utah by amateurs and professional excavators working for the black market.

Woolsey, a chip-truck driver, and Jim Barney, a lumber-mill worker, were digging with a shovel and a hoe in 3-foot-deep holes on May 25, 1991, when six Salt Lake City hikers happened on them, prosecutors said.

The hikers, suspicious of the excavating, continued on their trail and discovered the men's ATVs. They photographed the vehicles' registrations. From there, federal agents tracked down the men.

The government confiscated two pickup trucks and two all-terrain vehicles the pair used to get to the archaeological site near Boulder Creek.

Woolsey, then 25, and Barney, then 32, entered guilty pleas to aiding and abetting a violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act in August 1992.

In October 1992, U. S. District Judge J. Thomas Greene placed them on probation and ordered them to perform 100 hours of community service.

There was no fine or restitution ordered for the $6,650 damage that prosecutors say was done at the site.

The judge noted that a search warrant executed at the home of one of the men yielded little in the way of illegally dug remnants.

"There was no evidence of repeated acts over a period of time,'' Judge Greene said. "There was evidence that the damage that was done was not done entirely by these defendants.''

Jordan acknowledged: "I would not characterize these defendants as hardened criminals.''

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Incidentally, there is another Woosley, a Tammy Woosley, who has also been convicted of looting and served time for it. I do not know if they are related in any way.

Couple to fight artifact charges - 4/19/2002

Alleged pothunters enter innocent plea - 4/22/2002

Pillaging of ancient artifacts a problem - 11/25/2002

Dolores pair sentenced for looting site - 2/21/2003

Archaeological looter pleads guilty to probation violations - 5/11/2004

Archaeological looter sentenced to prison - 5/27/2004

yea for benjamin!

2007-05-17T09:52:00.000+02:00

His photo in the NYT (again)

way to go!

Say it loud: I'm elite and proud!

2007-04-14T15:53:00.000+02:00

Worth reading:

Say it loud: I'm elite and proud!

Why is the country run by people who celebrate mediocrity and recruit from Pat Robertson's law school?
Because the right-wing crusade to demonize elites has succeeded.

go for a swim!

2007-04-14T15:19:00.000+02:00

Check out instruction #23
(or try it for yourself, NYC to london baby!)

Goodbye Blue monday

2007-04-12T18:14:00.000+02:00

You will be missed Mr. Vonnegut.
One of my favorite articles

next?

2007-04-02T17:12:00.000+02:00

you want me to do what?

2007-04-02T17:10:00.000+02:00

party time

2007-04-02T17:09:00.000+02:00

seagull?

2007-04-02T17:06:00.000+02:00

grrr, I am a tiger

2007-04-02T17:05:00.000+02:00

chuffed

2007-04-02T15:03:00.000+02:00

noon gun

2007-03-26T16:39:00.000+02:00

cloudy day around the lion

2007-03-26T16:27:00.000+02:00

Tania pondering the city

2007-03-26T16:21:00.000+02:00

a leftover from nyc

2007-03-26T16:07:00.000+02:00

a return (of sorts)

2007-03-14T19:14:00.000+02:00

Ok, so I've been way busy.

For those who have not been following the saga of the Mill on Andrea's blog, I highly recommend it. For those who have, Dunkan has taken some lovely photos available to the viewing public. I have not been allowed into this sacred inner sanctum, so enjoy this rare view of the SCIENTIST at work!

My own photos to follow!

at benjamin's house

2007-01-11T00:22:00.000+02:00

christmas time in the city

2007-01-04T02:10:00.000+02:00

for lucas

2007-01-04T01:58:00.000+02:00

lego time

2007-01-04T01:54:00.000+02:00

tractor time

2007-01-04T01:53:00.000+02:00

king pop

2007-01-04T01:52:00.000+02:00

munch

2007-01-04T01:51:00.000+02:00

finish

2007-01-04T01:50:00.002+02:00

tart

2007-01-04T01:50:00.001+02:00

start

2007-01-04T01:50:00.000+02:00

sleepytime

2007-01-04T01:47:00.000+02:00

taco time!

2007-01-04T01:45:00.000+02:00

perfume from phil?

2007-01-04T01:44:00.000+02:00

fish

2007-01-01T20:58:00.000+02:00

'gator

2007-01-01T20:29:00.001+02:00

aquarium

2007-01-01T20:29:00.000+02:00

giggles

2006-12-28T19:20:00.000+02:00

at the museum

2006-12-28T19:19:00.000+02:00

dindin eating tacos

2006-12-28T19:18:00.000+02:00

learning about modern dolls

2006-12-28T19:16:00.000+02:00

unca!

2006-12-28T19:13:00.000+02:00

enthralled

2006-12-28T19:12:00.000+02:00

story time

2006-12-24T01:22:00.000+02:00

happy hike 3

2006-12-24T01:20:00.000+02:00

happy hike 2

2006-12-24T01:19:00.000+02:00

happy hike time

2006-12-24T01:18:00.000+02:00

whoot!

2006-12-24T01:17:00.000+02:00

skyping home (hi mom!)

2006-12-24T01:15:00.000+02:00

giggle2

2006-12-24T01:14:00.000+02:00

i see you!

2006-12-24T01:12:00.000+02:00

thanks mom!

2006-12-24T01:11:00.000+02:00

giggle

2006-12-24T01:10:00.000+02:00

picking ornaments

2006-12-24T01:09:00.000+02:00

lydia hanging

2006-12-24T01:08:00.000+02:00

mimi hanging

2006-12-24T01:06:00.000+02:00

pretty things to hang on the tree

2006-12-24T01:05:00.000+02:00

see through chloe

2006-12-24T01:03:00.000+02:00

hanging ornaments

2006-12-24T01:02:00.000+02:00

happy trees2

2006-12-23T05:21:00.000+02:00

happy trees1

2006-12-23T05:17:00.000+02:00

tree lights

2006-12-22T19:03:00.000+02:00

xmas lights

2006-12-22T18:42:00.000+02:00

reflecting pool

2006-12-22T18:40:00.000+02:00

he was the guy with the cherry tree, right?

2006-12-22T18:39:00.000+02:00

da man (v2)

2006-12-22T18:37:00.000+02:00

makes sense

2006-12-20T23:38:00.001+02:00

who da man?

2006-12-20T23:38:00.000+02:00

inverted arches

2006-12-20T23:37:00.000+02:00

brrr

2006-12-20T23:36:00.000+02:00

chatting

2006-12-20T23:35:00.000+02:00

resting

2006-12-20T23:32:00.000+02:00

Never Alone (better late than never!)

2006-12-05T15:54:00.000+02:00

This online comic is updated by my friend eugene every four days.
I think it rules.
I read it religously and so should you.
check it out: never alone

my favorite: he's ALREADY a freakin' NINJA

.

"the saddle"

2006-12-05T15:06:00.000+02:00

birthday fun.

2006-12-05T15:03:00.000+02:00

moonrise

2006-12-05T11:44:00.000+02:00

atop devil's peak

2006-12-05T11:32:00.000+02:00

flower

2006-12-05T11:24:00.000+02:00

ok all you plant people.
what is this?

succulent

2006-12-05T09:35:00.000+02:00

hiking is serious business

2006-12-05T09:22:00.000+02:00

politics again.

2006-11-27T14:03:00.000+02:00

Ok, so this is old ... but it is still excellent.

who needs a haircut?

2006-11-27T11:07:00.000+02:00

Chapman's Peak

2006-11-27T11:05:00.000+02:00

Here

Hout Bay

2006-11-27T10:59:00.000+02:00

Here

mariano working hard

2006-11-27T10:54:00.000+02:00

yikes!

2006-11-23T12:28:00.000+02:00

no comment

2006-11-23T12:23:00.000+02:00

Birthday Party

2006-11-23T12:20:00.000+02:00

eek baboons (again)

2006-11-23T11:46:00.000+02:00

more lovely day

2006-11-23T11:40:00.000+02:00

Yea! this is my 200th post!

Lovely day @ millers

2006-11-23T11:12:00.000+02:00

bats!

2006-11-23T11:04:00.000+02:00

that's interesting...

2006-11-23T10:37:00.000+02:00

yea! ice cream!

2006-11-23T10:33:00.000+02:00

The Mysterious Language of Science

2006-11-22T17:51:00.001+02:00

a fun meme from bryan:
This list of phrases and their definitions is presented as a public service, to help you understand the mysterious language of science.

"IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN...":

I didn't look up the original reference.

"A DEFINITE TREND IS EVIDENT...":

These data are practically meaningless.

"WHILE IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE DEFINITE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS...":

The experiment failed, but I still hope to get it published.

"TYPICAL RESULTS ARE SHOWN...":

This is the prettiest example.

"IN MY EXPERIENCE...":

Once

"IN CASE AFTER CASE...":

Twice

"IN A SERIES OF CASES...":

Thrice

"IT IS BELIEVED THAT...":

I think.

"IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT...":

A couple of others think so, too.

"A CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF OBTAINABLE DATA...":

Three pages of notes were obliterated when I knocked over a glass of beer.

"IT IS CLEAR THAT MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PHENOMENON OCCURS...":

I don't understand it

"AFTER ADDITIONAL STUDY BY MY COLLEAGUES...":

They don't understand it either.

"THANKS ARE DUE TO JOE BLOTZ FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE EXPERIMENT AND TO CINDY ADAMS FOR VALUABLE DISCUSSIONS...":

Mr. Blotz did the work and Ms. Adams explained to me what it meant.

"IT IS HOPED THAT THIS STUDY WILL STIMULATE FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN THIS FIELD...":

I quit.

Blombos Cave

2006-11-22T17:35:00.000+02:00

pondering the strats

2006-11-22T17:26:00.000+02:00

lecture time

2006-11-22T17:22:00.000+02:00

Dr. Mithen pondering the Blombos Stratigraphy

2006-11-22T17:18:00.000+02:00

home. we need some art

2006-11-04T20:04:00.000+02:00

Company Gardens (paradise)

2006-10-27T11:38:00.000+02:00

Company Gardens (flowers again)

2006-10-27T11:36:00.000+02:00

Company Gardens (pretty flowers)

2006-10-27T11:35:00.000+02:00

Company Gardens (spring day)

2006-10-27T11:32:00.000+02:00

home

2006-10-26T18:50:00.000+02:00