YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK DEFENSE
Millions of people visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks every year. A small fraction of those visitors leave facing federal criminal charges — for offenses ranging from thermal trespass and wildlife violations to drug possession, DUI, and assault. For most of them, the experience is disorienting: they find themselves entangled in the federal court system, often hundreds or thousands of miles from home, with no prior criminal history and no understanding of what comes next.
Teton Defense handles federal criminal matters arising within both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Ethan has appeared before the United States Magistrate Judge — Hon. Stephanie A. Hambrick — more than any other criminal defense attorney in the past five years, and he understands how these cases are investigated, prosecuted, and resolved.
The Federal Court System for National Park Offenses
Offenses committed within Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are federal matters, prosecuted in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. For most misdemeanor-level park offenses, the presiding judicial officer is U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick. Yellowstone cases are heard at the Yellowstone Justice Center in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming while Grand Teton cases are heard in the Town of Jackson. These cases are prosecuted by an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) — not a local county prosecutor.
This distinction matters. The rules, procedures, and culture of federal court differ substantially from state court. An attorney who handles only state matters — or who has never appeared before Judge Hambrick or worked with the AUSA who handles park cases — is at a real disadvantage. Ethan has appeared in this court repeatedly and knows the specific contours of how these cases are handled.
Thermal Trespass (36 C.F.R. § 7.13(j))
Thermal trespass — entering or being present within a designated thermal area in Yellowstone — is a Class B federal petty misdemeanor with penalties including fines, probation, national park bans, and in serious cases, jail. These charges are treated as strict liability offenses, meaning intent and knowledge are generally not legal defenses.
Ethan has handled more thermal trespass cases than any other defense attorney in the past five years, and in that time has obtained dismissals and collateral forfeitures — resolutions that avoid a criminal conviction on the record. Cases arise from tourists stepping off boardwalks for photographs, winter hikers whose thermal boundaries were obscured by snow, and visitors who simply did not realize where they were standing.
For a complete guide to how these cases work, what defenses are available, and what realistic outcomes look like, read: Charged with Thermal Trespass in Yellowstone? A Defense Attorney's Guide to 36 C.F.R. § 7.13(j)
Other Common Federal Park Charges
DUI within the parks. Operating a vehicle under the influence within a national park is a federal offense. These cases are handled in federal court under federal DUI statutes, with different procedural rules than a Wyoming state DUI.
Drug possession. Possession of certain controlled substances is a federal misdemeanor within park boundaries. E
Wildlife violations. Feeding, approaching, or harassing wildlife, as well as poaching and related offenses, are charged federally and can carry significant fines, park bans, and other penalties. Jail time may be ordered for the most serious offenses.
Trespass and closure violations. Entering closed areas, including back-basin thermal zones and wildlife management closures, can be charged separately from or in addition to thermal trespass violations. Ethan has won dismissal of a closure violation charge in a national park matter after arguing the charge was filed without legal authority.
Assault, theft, and other offenses. All criminal matters within park boundaries are federal. Offenses that would be state matters elsewhere are prosecuted federally when they occur inside Yellowstone or Grand Teton.
Why Local Federal Court Experience Matters
United States Magistrate Judge Hambrick is not a typical federal judge. She handles a distinct caseload, with recurring fact patterns and a specific prosecutorial office. An attorney who walks in without that context is learning on your case. Ethan has built his federal practice around repeat appearances in this specific court — and that institutional knowledge translates directly into better outcomes for his clients.
Can I Handle This From Home?
In most cases, yes — at least for a significant portion of the proceedings. Federal misdemeanor defendants can often waive personal appearance at certain hearings, whether represented by an attorney or pro se. An experienced attorney can appear on your behalf. Ethan has represented individuals across the country and around the world in Yellowstone and Grand Teton federal matters, handling the process without requiring clients to make repeated cross-country trips.
Teton Defense handles federal criminal matters arising in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the surrounding federal lands. Call (307) 219-3535 or schedule a free consultation below.