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Man illegally guiding hikers at Buffalo National River now sentenced

One man has now been sentenced after he illegally guided hikers at the Buffalo National River, resulting in one person being injured, and another person's death.

HARRISON, Ark. — On March 7, a man was sentenced for illegally guiding hikers at Buffalo National River. 

According to reports, Jeffrey Johnson was sentenced to two years probation, $600 in fines, $80 in processing fees, and was ordered to pay $2, 686.27 in restitution. Mr. Johnson was also banned from the Buffalo National River for two years.

During Spring 2022, Johnson led a group of hikers on a hike up an unofficial trail where one hiker was carried out due to injuries, and on a separate occasion a different hike ended with the death of a hiker within the group.

Johnson was discovered to have been conducting a guided hiking service by using a website to gather people with outdoor interests. He was also found to have been asking for donations and charging a yearly membership fee to the members of the group.

An investigation proved that Johnson never applied for or received a permit to operate the hiker-guiding business in the park.

In December, Johnson was convicted on a count of engaging in or soliciting business inside a national park without a permit and also on one count of soliciting money inside a national park without a permit.

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