Husband And Wife Sentenced On ARPA Charges

On January 9, 2008, rangers were alerted to the recent looting of a known archeological site in the park’s upper district.  After two days of surveillance, rangers Lee Brumbaugh, Kelly Charbonneau, and Ranger James Purcell (from Natchez Trace) installed surveillance equipment near the site. While installing the equipment, rangers contacted William A. Graves and a juvenile walking toward the area. Graves was in possession of digging tools and boots that matched impressions left in the recently excavated looter holes. Misty Graves, William Graves’ wife, remained at a trailhead area with their vehicle. She was found to be in possession of artifacts and a pick. Further investigation and crime scene analysis positively linked the Graves to the site. A search warrant of their residence was executed by rangers and NPS special agents, resulting in the discovery of numerous items associated with collecting artifacts and other evidence linking the Graves and others to excavating activities in the park and on nearby private land.  After a six month investigation in conjunction with agents from the NPS Investigative Services Branch, the Graves were indicted by a federal grand jury. During a subsequent interview, Graves admitted to digging in the park and relinquished 71 stone tools, projectile points, or other artifacts that he said originated from the site. On June 24th, William and Misty Graves were formally sentenced in US District Court.  As a result of a plea agreement, William A. Graves was sentenced under one felony count of violating ARPA to six months imprisonment and one year of supervised probation. Misty Graves was sentenced under one misdemeanor count of ARPA and received one year of supervised probation. The two have also been ordered to pay $4,613 in restitution to the park. The park’s archeologist, Dr. Caven Clark, was instrumental in the investigation and provided expert testimony during the sentencing proceedings. Rangers from Buffalo NR and Hot Springs NP, as part of the Cultural and Archeological Response Team (CART), assisted during the course of the investigation.