Post by blackcrowheart on Jul 5, 2007 8:55:24 GMT -5
Cornejo accepts plea, is sentenced for digging on tribal land
by Kara D. Machado, 3/2/2007
An Arcata man accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced Thursday
for an incident stemming from his December 2006 arrest after being found
digging on Tsurai Village ancestral burial grounds.
The plea Taylor Lang Cornejo, 27, accepted was "unlawfully injuring,
disfiguring, defacing or destroying an object or thing of archaeological
or historical value that specifically (was) on lands of the Tsurai
ancestral burial grounds," said Humboldt County Deputy District
Attorney Zachary Bird.
Bird said the court sentenced Cornejo to two years probation — with
the terms that he write a letter of apology to the Tsurai Ancestral
Society, serve 250 hours of community service and stays "away from
all Yurok tribal territory lands, to pay various fines and fees and the
court also reserved jurisdiction for ordering restitution."
"With the consent of the tribe, we agreed not to pursue additional
jail time," Bird said Friday.
The plea, Bird said, also included Cornejo driving on a suspended
license, for which he was sentenced to two years probation — which
will run concurrently with his other two years of probation — in
which he is not to drive without a license or insurance and must pay
various fees and fines.
Bird said Yurok tribal members were present at Cornejo's court
proceedings Thursday and addressed the court.
The Tsurai Village ancestral lands/burial grounds are located in
Trinidad on Yurok tribal land.
Cornejo also addressed the court, Bird said, giving an oral apology to
the tribe.
Gene Brundin, chair for the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act Committee, commented on Cornejo's sentencing during
a news conference held at Trinidad Town Hall Friday.
"I would have liked to have seen a more severe sentence,"
Brundin said. "However, given the circumstances, I think we're
quite fortunate to have gotten the resolution we did."
Trinidad Police Chief Kenneth J. Thrailkill, also present at
Friday's news conference at Trinidad Town Hall, gave some background
on the Tsurai Village ancestral thefts, as well as Cornejo's arrest.
Thrailkill said tampering and desecration of the Tsurai Village
ancestral lands and burial grounds have been going on for decades.
"In May of 2006, the Tsurai Ancestral Society — descendants of
the Tsurai Tribe — came to the police department to report
individuals trying to dig up artifacts and remains," Thrailkill
said. "Over the course of the investigation, (Cornejo) was
arrested."
Thrailkill said an officer caught Cornejo digging at a burial site at
about 2:20 p.m. on Dec. 19, 2006.
Cornejo was arrested that same day, Thrailkill said.
The day after Cornejo's arrest, Thrailkill said a search warrant was
obtained for Cornejo's house, located in the 2900 block of Evergreen
Court in Arcata.
Although Cornejo did not have anything on him when he was arrested,
Thrailkill said, "many artifacts, such as arrowheads and other
(American) Indian artifacts," were found at Cornejo's home.
Thrailkill said he was unsure if Cornejo acted alone in his crime(s) or
if he worked with other individuals. However, Thrailkill said he
believes there have been others desecrating the site.
Thrailkill said there is an ongoing investigation into the Tsurai
Village ancestral thefts and burial site diggings.
"We're following leads," Thrailkill said. "This is a
serious violation and we'll vigorously prosecute any individuals
desecrating the site.
"The taking of remains or artifacts from the site is a state
offense."
Brundin said, via a written statement, that as a Yurok, "I was
deeply saddened to hear that one of our village sites was looted."
"In our world view, disturbing burial sites is one of the most
offensive crimes committed against our ancestors," Brundin said.
"For the Yurok people, my people, a burial site is the gateway to
the afterlife; I cannot comprehend why anyone would think it is
acceptable to damage that link."
Brundin asked the public to report any suspicious activity and any
individuals who might seem out of place at the ancestral lands.
"The Yurok Tribe is doing everything in its power to make sure these
illegal acts are stopped, including working with the local police as
well as the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office," Brundin
said, "and monitoring the sites with our own cultural resource
personnel and tribal law enforcement.
"... There are people alive today who remember those who lived at
this site, so this is not ancient history."
Bird said, "While there is nothing we can do to erase what happened,
I think that the crime that (Cornejo's) convicted of will send a
message to other people to respect tribal land, tribal custom and tribal
property, and we hope something like this will never happen again."
by Kara D. Machado, 3/2/2007
An Arcata man accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced Thursday
for an incident stemming from his December 2006 arrest after being found
digging on Tsurai Village ancestral burial grounds.
The plea Taylor Lang Cornejo, 27, accepted was "unlawfully injuring,
disfiguring, defacing or destroying an object or thing of archaeological
or historical value that specifically (was) on lands of the Tsurai
ancestral burial grounds," said Humboldt County Deputy District
Attorney Zachary Bird.
Bird said the court sentenced Cornejo to two years probation — with
the terms that he write a letter of apology to the Tsurai Ancestral
Society, serve 250 hours of community service and stays "away from
all Yurok tribal territory lands, to pay various fines and fees and the
court also reserved jurisdiction for ordering restitution."
"With the consent of the tribe, we agreed not to pursue additional
jail time," Bird said Friday.
The plea, Bird said, also included Cornejo driving on a suspended
license, for which he was sentenced to two years probation — which
will run concurrently with his other two years of probation — in
which he is not to drive without a license or insurance and must pay
various fees and fines.
Bird said Yurok tribal members were present at Cornejo's court
proceedings Thursday and addressed the court.
The Tsurai Village ancestral lands/burial grounds are located in
Trinidad on Yurok tribal land.
Cornejo also addressed the court, Bird said, giving an oral apology to
the tribe.
Gene Brundin, chair for the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act Committee, commented on Cornejo's sentencing during
a news conference held at Trinidad Town Hall Friday.
"I would have liked to have seen a more severe sentence,"
Brundin said. "However, given the circumstances, I think we're
quite fortunate to have gotten the resolution we did."
Trinidad Police Chief Kenneth J. Thrailkill, also present at
Friday's news conference at Trinidad Town Hall, gave some background
on the Tsurai Village ancestral thefts, as well as Cornejo's arrest.
Thrailkill said tampering and desecration of the Tsurai Village
ancestral lands and burial grounds have been going on for decades.
"In May of 2006, the Tsurai Ancestral Society — descendants of
the Tsurai Tribe — came to the police department to report
individuals trying to dig up artifacts and remains," Thrailkill
said. "Over the course of the investigation, (Cornejo) was
arrested."
Thrailkill said an officer caught Cornejo digging at a burial site at
about 2:20 p.m. on Dec. 19, 2006.
Cornejo was arrested that same day, Thrailkill said.
The day after Cornejo's arrest, Thrailkill said a search warrant was
obtained for Cornejo's house, located in the 2900 block of Evergreen
Court in Arcata.
Although Cornejo did not have anything on him when he was arrested,
Thrailkill said, "many artifacts, such as arrowheads and other
(American) Indian artifacts," were found at Cornejo's home.
Thrailkill said he was unsure if Cornejo acted alone in his crime(s) or
if he worked with other individuals. However, Thrailkill said he
believes there have been others desecrating the site.
Thrailkill said there is an ongoing investigation into the Tsurai
Village ancestral thefts and burial site diggings.
"We're following leads," Thrailkill said. "This is a
serious violation and we'll vigorously prosecute any individuals
desecrating the site.
"The taking of remains or artifacts from the site is a state
offense."
Brundin said, via a written statement, that as a Yurok, "I was
deeply saddened to hear that one of our village sites was looted."
"In our world view, disturbing burial sites is one of the most
offensive crimes committed against our ancestors," Brundin said.
"For the Yurok people, my people, a burial site is the gateway to
the afterlife; I cannot comprehend why anyone would think it is
acceptable to damage that link."
Brundin asked the public to report any suspicious activity and any
individuals who might seem out of place at the ancestral lands.
"The Yurok Tribe is doing everything in its power to make sure these
illegal acts are stopped, including working with the local police as
well as the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office," Brundin
said, "and monitoring the sites with our own cultural resource
personnel and tribal law enforcement.
"... There are people alive today who remember those who lived at
this site, so this is not ancient history."
Bird said, "While there is nothing we can do to erase what happened,
I think that the crime that (Cornejo's) convicted of will send a
message to other people to respect tribal land, tribal custom and tribal
property, and we hope something like this will never happen again."