Relic Hunting Does Not Pay for Looters of Wilderness Battlefield

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<font size="+0">Relic Hunting Does Not Pay for Looters of Wilderness Battlefield</font>

May 30, 2002--As if fines and confiscation of expensive equipment wasn't enough, three men who were apprehended last year while hunting for Civil War relics on the Wilderness Battlefield are going to have to pay for a newspaper ad telling others about the evils of looting battlefields.

Patrick L. Godfrey, Jr., 34, and two companions were apprehended while relic hunting in a wooded section of the Wilderness Battlefield by rangers Steve Davis and Craig Johnson, the National Park Service reported recently.

Two of the three were in possession of metal detectors and a total of 117 artifacts, while the third was using a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit. A search of Godfrey's vehicle, which was also located inside the park, led to the discovery of several maps, including detailed topographical maps, of the area and other items associated with relic hunting.

The officers got a search warrant and additional Civil War and relic hunting items were seized from Godfrey's residence, including a photograph of a Virginia state seal belt buckle, which was found to have been dug up on private property in northern Virginia without permission. It had been sold out of state for $3,000 using the Internet and the US mail.

Godfrey plead guilty earlier this month to excavation of archeological resources and the unlawful sale of an archeological resource through interstate commerce, both at the felony level. The metal detector, GPS unit, and metal detecting equipment Godfrey had in his possession were forfeited.

Dale A. Schmidt, 39, plead guilty to the excavation of archeological resources and the unlawful sale through interstate commerce of an archeological resource taken in violation of state law, both as misdemeanors. Schmidt was sentenced to one year of supervised probation.

In addition to the probation Schmidt is required to pay $1,253 (one-half of the cost of restoration and repair) in restitution to the NPS and $1,500 (one-half of the sale price) in restitution to the private landowner. He also forfeited a metal detector and relic hunting equipment.

The probation deal did not come cheap for the men. In return for a recommendation for probation, both Godfrey and Schmidt have already paid for a $5,000 contract with two local newspapers for advertising a looter prevention message.

Godfrey will receive the remainder of his official sentencing in Federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, in late July. The third member of the relic-hunting party was not named in NPS reports.


Courtesy of:
Civil War Interactive: The Daily Newspaper of the Civil War
www.civilwarinteractive.com