Pierce Brosnan had initially pleaded not guilty in January, but has now been ordered to pay a fine after he admitted to leaving the trail in an area of Yellowstone National Park.
Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has been fined after pleading guilty to stepping off a designated trail in a thermal area within Yellowstone National Park. The incident occurred on November 1st last year at Mammoth Terraces, situated in the northern part of Yellowstone near the Wyoming-Montana border.
Mammoth Terraces is renowned for its scenic beauty, featuring mineral-encrusted hot springs that bubble from a hillside, with water temperatures sometimes reaching or exceeding boiling point.
Initially pleading not guilty in January, Brosnan, 70, later admitted to his mistake in an Instagram post, acknowledging that he had overlooked a warning sign prohibiting trespassing and had acted impulsively.
During the court hearing in Wyoming, Brosnan was fined $500 and instructed to make a $1,000 donation to the nonprofit organization Yellowstone Forever by April 1st.
In his statement, Brosnan expressed his deep regret for the transgression, emphasizing his respect and love for the natural world as an environmentalist. He apologized to all affected parties and underscored the importance of preserving and caring for national parks like Yellowstone for future generations.
The charge for violating closures and use limits was dismissed by US magistrate judge Stephanie Hambrick. The US Attorney’s Office for Wyoming confirmed that Brosnan’s visit to the park was personal and not for film-related purposes.
Despite the allure of off-limits areas like Mammoth Terraces, straying from designated trails can pose significant dangers, with numerous visitors to Yellowstone suffering severe burns each year after disregarding warning signs. Trespassers risk facing not only substantial fines but also potential jail time and bans from the park.
Brosnan, known for his roles in the James Bond franchise, the TV series Remington Steele, and films such as Mrs. Doubtfire and The Thomas Crown Affair, has since expressed remorse for his actions and reaffirmed his commitment to environmental stewardship.
