Two men receive heavy sentences for knocking over 140 million year old stone

ancient stone - Photo 1.

The couple were captured on video pushing and shoving the famous red sandstone structures - Photo: Touronsofyellowstone/Instagram

Both had to pay fines and face prison sentences for vandalizing ancient stones, according to the Independent .

Sentenced for vandalizing ancient stone

The couple, Wyatt Clifford Fain and Payden David Guy Cosper, were captured on video last April pushing the famous red sandstone formations at Lake Mead National Park in Nevada, which features sand dunes that date back 140 million years.

Video recording the two's actions went viral and was quickly condemned.

After a two-day trial, both were convicted of damaging and destroying government property. They face a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both.

After the two men were indicted, attorney Ross Goodman — who is representing Cosper — told CNN there was no signage indicating the area was federally protected.

“There are no signs posted at the entrance saying no rock pushing or that this is a federally protected area,” Goodman said.

He added that his client "had no idea that pushing a rock was illegal until U.S. Marshals showed up at his home four months later."

Not enough staff to monitor the park

In the viral video, two men stand on red rocks, bending down to push large chunks off the top of the rock structures.

"Daddy, don't fall!" a little girl screams in the video, dust flying into the air as ancient rocks crumble to the ground.

"Why in the world would someone do something like this?" said John Haynes, public information officer for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, calling the vandalism "outrageous" and "disgusting."

"It takes millions of years for these rock structures to form, and then just a few idiots can destroy the entire work of nature," he added.

The park covers an area of up to 600,000 hectares, including mountains, canyons, valleys and two lakes, making it extremely difficult for rangers to monitor the entire area at once.

“We have two large lakes, part of the Colorado River. With the number of people we have, it’s very difficult to be everywhere at once,” said John.

He encouraged anyone who witnesses similar acts of vandalism to film or photograph the incident if possible.