Vanessa Hudgens and her boyfriend Austin Butler are under investigation for allegedly defacing rocks in Sedona, Arizona. Is there any truth to these allegations?
The Grease: Live and High School Musical actress and her boyfriend spent Valentine’s Day weekend there, and it seems Vanessa Hudgens posted a photo on her Instagram account–one that has since been deleted–depicting their vacation. The trouble is, the picture featured a rock with their names carved into it, surrounded by a heart.
If the rock with that carving is located inside the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, where authorities expect it may very well be, then Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler are in a pile of trouble.
Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler being investigated over (now deleted) instagram pic https://t.co/BnSdOrjwQR pic.twitter.com/dxLKOt6vgv
— Sugarscape (@sugarscape) February 18, 2016
It’s against federal law to damage “any natural feature or other property of the United States,” according to a statement issued by Brady Smith, a Coconino National Forest spokesman.
Hudgens and Butler–or at least their recent vacation agenda–is under investigation. If it is determined they defaced this rock–or rocks–they face a $5,000 fine and/or up to six months in jail.
“On Monday, Feb.15, we became aware–via media and public reports–of an Instagram posting by Vanessa Hudgens showing a scratching or carving of a heart with two names in it on a rock that allegedly is on the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest,” Brady Smith said in his statement.
“I can say that the issue of people carving their names and other things in rocks in the Sedona and surrounding area is always a challenge we face, and (we) try to inform people about its destructive nature.” he said. “We have found that when one person carves something, it encourages others to carve. Carving of any kind affects the natural beauty of the area.”
Vanessa Hudgens and boyfriend Austin Butler caused some trouble in Sedona, Arizona https://t.co/dAj1OTSNBe pic.twitter.com/SssIG5Gvpg
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 17, 2016
If you didn’t happen to catch Vanessa Hudgens’ Instagram post of her and Austin Butler’s names carved into Sedona rocks, this Fox reporter took a screen grab, and shared it via Twitter.
#ICYMI: @VanessaHudgens iunder fire for a picture posted, deleted on her #Instagram account https://t.co/vJsWqxPI0W pic.twitter.com/VjIVBftL7Q
— Brent Corrado (@BrentCorrado) February 17, 2016
Do you think–if they are charged–that Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler meant any harm by defacing this rock or rocks in Sedona? Or were they simply two lovebirds on a getaway with nothing but romance on their minds?