Suspects in Death Valley vandalism might face charges

By Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Thursday, May 12, 2016 | 7:30 p.m.

Three men accused of going on a bender at Death Valley National Park and possibly killing a rare species of fish are facing federal counts, according to the Nye County Sheriff's office.

Steven Schwinkendorf, 29, of Pahrump, Edgar Reyes, 35, of North Las Vegas, and Trenton Sargent, 26, of Indian Springs, were caught on surveillance video on April 30 at Devils Hole, where they left behind beer cans, shotgun shells, and tried to disable the park's security equipment by shooting it, the park service said.

They have been interviewed by authorities and are "projected" to face federal charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, killing of an endangered species, destruction of property, trespassing, destruction of habitat and an ex-felon with possession of a firearm, the Sheriff's Office said.

It wasn't immediately clear if they've been arrested.

After the incident, staff at Devils Hole found a dead pupfish floating on the water, the park service said. Its death, based on the decay of the fish, coincides with the timeframe the men were at the habitat.

Pupfish are critically endangered and the habitat is the only known place they live in, the park service said. Only 115 were counted during last month's survey.

One of the men was seen going into the water and "crushing" fish," which are slow moving, docile and as they have no natural predators, curious by nature," the park service said. The peak spawning season for pupfish is April to May, so the man probably destroyed eggs as well.

About 7:20 p.m. Saturday the trio trespassed in an off-highway vehicle, shot off gate locks, a motion sensor and several signs, the park service said. They also damaged scientific equipment.

Investigators found beer cans, vomit and underwear left by the man who entered the water, the park service said. As they left, they tried dismantling the security system by shooting a motion center and unplugging camera cables.

Authorities, which included staff from the park service, the Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service received tips from the public, the park service said.