Greenpeace and 11 Individuals Plead Not Guilty in Federal Court for Mount Rushmore Incident

RAPID CITY, SD—United States Attorney Marty J. Jackley has announced that eleven individuals and Greenpeace, Inc., appeared today before US Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy. The individuals and Greenpeace, Inc. face a number of charges relating to a July 8, 2009, incident at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. All of the defendants pled not guilty to the charges. The charges include one count of conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law. The indictment contains further specific allegations concerning the conspiracy charge which include:

• Greenpeace, Inc., provided planning and training for the individual co-conspirators.
• Greenpeace, Inc., caused the individual co-conspirators and their climbing, video, and photographic equipment to be transported to Rapid City in preparation for climbing Mount Rushmore.
• Greenpeace, Inc., hired a helicopter to carry its members, agents and employees in order to allow them to observe, photograph and record the actions of individuals who were climbing Mount Rushmore on July 8, 2009.
• As part of the conspiracy, certain individuals attempted to impede responding law enforcement officers by placing locks on security gates as well as by chaining themselves to areas where it would be difficult or impossible for responding officers to get around the individuals without risk of personal injury. Greenpeace, Inc., is also charged with the following offenses:
• Aiding and abetting eleven individuals trespassing in a national park by entering an area not open to the public without permission.
• Aiding and abetting nine individuals with climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law.
• Aiding and abetting six individuals with intentionally interfering with a government employee or officer engaged in an official duty.

The individuals charged in the indictment include:

Noah Lassiter Mace, age 21, Chapel Hill, NC: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law, interfering with a government official and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Mary Rebecca Sweeters, age 27, Chicago, IL: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, interfering with a government official and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Basil G. Tsimoyianis, age 22, Westport, CT: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Madeline Jean Gardner, age 27, Minneapolis, MN: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law, interfering with a government official and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Matthew Joseph Leonard, age 30, San Francisco, CA: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Brian Carroll Jenkins, age 25, Helena, MT: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law, interfering with a government official and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Simran J. McKenna, age 25, San Francisco, CA: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law, interfering with a government official and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Jessica J. Miller, age 31, Flushing, NY: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Cy Wagoner, age 32, San Francisco, CA: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Joseph Martin Smyth, age 27, Albuquerque, NM: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, climbing Mount Rushmore as prohibited by law and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

Hope C. Kaye, age 23, San Francisco, CA: charged with conspiracy to climb Mount Rushmore, trespass in a national park, interfering with a government official and aiding and abetting others in those offenses.

The maximum penalty for each of the four counts charging Greenpeace, Inc., is a $10,000 fine and restitution. The maximum penalty for each count naming an individual is six months’ imprisonment, a $5,000 fine and restitution. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the individuals and corporation named are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. All defendants continue to be released on bond pending trial scheduled for October 19, 2009. The investigation is being conducted by the Mount Rushmore National Park Service Rangers and special agents of the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Mark Vargo.