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Man sentenced for snowmobile violations

Staff report

A South Lake Tahoe man has been prosecuted for operating his snowmobile in a closed area and evading a forest protection officer who attempted to stop him, officials announced today.

According to a Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit press statement, U.S. Magistrate Gregory Hollows sentenced Robert Jan Scotford, 47, to seven days in federal custody for evading a Forest Service officer.

The violation happened on March 4, 2006 in the Freel Peak closure area, according to the press statement. A forest protection officer attempted to stop and contact Scotford, who was riding his snowmobile in the closed area. Scotford evaded him and resisted several commands by the officer to stop, according to the press statement.



Scotford was charged with nine counts in a bench trial at the U.S. District Court in Sacramento. Scotford was found guilty on four, including interfering with an officer, failure to stop a vehicle when directed by an officer, operation of a vehicle in a manner that violates a Forest Service order, and operation of a vehicle that violates government regulations, according to the statement.

Scotford is a British citizen and was ordered to surrender his passport pending service of his sentence.


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