Man pleads guilty for theft and vandalism of White Mountain National Forest signs
FORMER RESIDENT OF NEWFIELDS PLEADS GUILTY TO DESTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
CONCORD – Dwayne Grim, 52, formerly of Newfields, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to destruction of government property, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2016, U.S.Department of Agriculture Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers working in the Pemigewasset Ranger district of the White Mountain National Forest began noticing that USDA Forest Service signs, property, and interpretive materials on kiosks were being stolen and/or vandalized. The incidents occurred primarily in the towns of Woodstock, Benton, Easton, Landaff, Bath, and Warren, New Hampshire.
On January 14, 2018, a law enforcement officer notified the Forest Service that he had recovered signs that appeared to belong to the Forest Service at Grim’s home in Newfields. Grim later admitted to cutting down and/or removing signs belonging to the Forest Service in the area of the White Mountain National Forest. Many of the stolen signs were later recovered, some with Grim’s assistance.
In total, Grim damaged at least 26 signs and caused approximately $3,868 in damages to Forest Service property. As part of his plea, Grim agreed to make full restitution to the Forest Service.
Grim, who now resides in Oregon, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9, 2021.
“The White Mountain National Forest attracts visitors from all over the world,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “By destroying Forest Service signs and property, Grim not only committed a federal crime, but also inconvenienced many people seeking to enjoy the National Forest. To protect the White Mountain National Forest, we will not hesitate to bring federal charges against those who commit crimes there.”
This matter was investigated by the USDA Forest Service and the Newfields Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.
