Men accused of damaging 140 million year old rock formations in the national park face up to 10 years in prison

A trial date has been set for October 8 for two Nevada men accused of damaging rock formations estimated to be 140 million years old in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

In an indictment filed by U.S. federal authorities, Wyatt Clifford Fain (37) and Payden David Guy Cosper (31) are accused of assault and destruction of government property, as well as aiding and abetting the commission of the crime. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the men each face up to ten years in prison if convicted.

The two Henderson residents were arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and made their first court appearance Friday, where they both pleaded not guilty and were released on bail, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Authorities say Fain and Cosper pushed rock formations over a cliff edge around the Redstone Dunes Trail at Lake Mead on April 7, causing more than $1,000 in damage.

In April, the National Park Service released a screenshot of a video reportedly taken on the evening of April 7 showing two men pushing natural rock formations off a cliff.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area just outside Las Vegas attracts around 6 million visitors each year and spans 2,344 square miles of mountains and desert canyons.

Authorities said that due to staffing levels, park officials often rely on the public to monitor resources even within park boundaries.

The National Park Service recommends that if you see anything suspicious or have information that may assist in the investigation, call the NPS Tip Line at 1-888-653-0009 or submit a tip online here.