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'Artist' Posts Pics of Herself Vandalizing Nat'l Parks With Graffiti

By William Peacock, Esq. on October 24, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

We try not to be too judgmental about potential criminal defendants, but you have to wonder about an "artist" who decides it's a good idea to paint graffiti on National Park landmarks all across the western United States.

Need more proof before you pass judgment? Not only did the accused vandal tag majestic rock formations (allegedly using acrylic paint), but she also posted pictures of her "artwork" on Instagram and Tumblr -- including a picture of herself in the act. Now, thanks to a little crowd-sourced sleuthing by two hiking blogs (Calipidder and Modern Hiker) and Reddit, the National Park Service has launched an investigation that will likely lead to charges.

What punishment could "creepytings" (the artist) potentially face? And how bad is the public's reaction to her so-called artwork?

Who Is 'creepytings'?

The vandal signed her works "creepytings" and documented her entire escapade on social media. It was only a matter of time, then, before her identity was uncovered. The paintings are allegedly the work of Casey Nocket, a 21-year-old on a road trip through the western United States.

You can see one of Nocket's alleged works in this image, tweeted by a Salt Lake City news director:

Casey's uncle, Ed Nocket, told The Denver Post that she is a "good girl" with "a lot of talent." He confirmed that she was on a road trip, but was unaware of her paintings and the viral, rageful response.

Her Hit List

So far, her taggings have been found in at least 10 national parks, with the investigation still underway. According to a National Park Service press release, she definitely left her mark on:

  • Yosemite National Park, California;
  • Death Valley National Park, California;
  • Crater Lake National Park, Oregon; and
  • Zion National Park and Canyonlands National Park, both in Utah.

And the NPS is confirming these hits as well:

  • Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona;
  • Sequoia Kings Canyon and Joshua Tree National Parks, both in California;
  • Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado; and
  • Bryce National Park, Utah.

Proper Punishment?

You don't need the federal definition -- destroying, injuring, defacing, or damaging property or real property -- to know that this is definitely vandalism. For each act of vandalism, she could be charged with a federal misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and $5,000 in fines.

As you may recall, last year two Boy Scout troop leaders were fined and given probation for their own act of vandalism -- topping a natural rock formation -- and like Nocket, they also posted evidence of their crime online. Many are hoping that Nocket ends up with a more severe punishment. In fact, there is a petition on WhiteHouse.gov asking the government to make sure she receives the maximum punishment allowed by law.

As of Friday afternoon, the petition had more than 5,500 signatures.

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