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Moab man indicted on 4 counts related to theft of fossilized dinosaur track

Posted at 4:05 PM, Mar 12, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-12 18:05:06-04

MOAB, Utah —  A Moab man has been indicted on four charges relating to the theft and damaging of a fossilized dinosaur track allegedly taken from an area administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Jared Ehlers, 35, in connection with removing the tree-toed dinosaur track from the Hell’s Revenge area of the Sand Flats Recreation Area near Moab.

The indictments include, removal of paleontological resources, theft of government property, depredation of government property and destruction of evidence. The first count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, the second and third counts a maximum of 10 years in prison each, and the fourth count up to 20 years in prison.

The press release states Ehlers allegedly knowingly removed the fossilized track and then tried to destroy or conceal it in an attempt to obstruct the investigation. A summons will be issued to Ehlers to appear in federal court.

The search for the missing track turned to the Colorado River over the weekend.

FOX 13 News will have more information as it becomes available.