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Colorado man pleads guilty to trespassing at Old Faithful

In this May 21, 2011, photo, tourists photograph Old Faithful erupting on schedule late in the afternoon in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. Yellowstone National Park officials say they’ve ticketed a man caught on video walking dangerously close to Old Faithful geyser. (Julie Jacobson / AP)
Associated Press

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – A 27-year-old Colorado man who walked dangerously close to Old Faithful geyser in September is banned from Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks for five years.

Gabriel Villalva of Greeley pleaded guilty Thursday to disorderly conduct and foot traffic on a thermal area in Yellowstone park. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman sentenced him to five years on probation, during which time he cannot enter the parks.

Tourists captured videos of Villalva standing within a few feet of Old Faithful on Sept. 14.

Five days later, Villalva was arrested in Cheyenne after a police chase in which his vehicle caught on fire. Villalva waived his preliminary hearing this week and remains jailed on $10,000 cash bond. An arraignment date hasn’t been set.