Actor Pierce Brosnan has pleaded not guilty to hiking in a restricted area of Yellowstone National Park, according to court documents filed this month in federal court in Wyoming.
Brosnan, 70, faces two charges that were filed on December 23. Court documents describe one charge as a “closure violation – gigantic terraces” and the other as “travel on foot in a thermal area.” Both incidents occurred on Nov. 1, according to charging documents.
The Mammoth Terraces area of Yellowstone is famous for its springs and hot springs. But visitors to Yellowstone, for the most part, should stay on the trails and view them from a distance. Hot spring water is acidic and “can cause serious or fatal burns,” according to the National Park Service. The water under the thin crust around the springs is boiling.
The court documents do not detail the events of Nov. 1 or specify how Brosnan is alleged to have violated restrictions in place at the park. Karl Knuchel, the attorney representing Brosnan in the case, declined to comment. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming did not respond to a request for comment. The National Park Service declined to comment beyond the filings.
Brosnan, former star of the James Bond film franchise, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Jan. 4 and requested that the court cancel a hearing scheduled for Jan. 23. That request was granted by Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick.
For the charge of “foot travel in a thermal area,” officials cited a park rule that states: “Walking travel in all thermal areas and within Yellowstone Canyon between Upper Falls and Inspiration Point must be limited to boardwalks.” or trails that are maintained for such travel and are marked with official signs.”
Authorities cited a separate law for the “closure violation” charge, one that says “violating a closure, designation, restriction or condition of use or activity, visiting hours or public use limit is prohibited.”
In November, Brosnan's son, Paris Brosnan, shared behind-the-scenes photos from the set of “Unholy Trinity,” a movie starring his father that was being filmed at the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana.
Previous incidents at the hot springs have highlighted the sensitivities surrounding the safety and preservation of the hot springs. In 2016, a 23-year-old man died after slipping and falling into a spring. He had ventured off the beaten path.
Last summer, a 49-year-old man was banned from Yellowstone after being accused of wandering drunk along a trail in a thermal area. He suffered burns while doing so, according to The Cowboy State Daily.
