Images from Lesh’s companies “promo” video.

The founder and owner of a Colorado-based clothing company, David Lesh, has been cited for illegally swimming in Hanging Lake and snowmobiling in a Keystone Resort’s terrain park. The charges come after Lesh posted images on social media of him riding a snowmobile at Keystone Resort during the closure of all Colorado ski resorts due to the  COVID-19 pandemic as well as images of him swimming in Hanging Lake.

Lesh, 35, faces six misdemeanor charges in the US District Court in Grand Junction, CO.

Each of the 6 charges holds a potential penalty of not more than six months imprisonment, not more than a $5,000 fine or both.  The U.S Attorney’s Office has stated that it would not seek imprisonment.

The Hanging Lake charges include:

  • Entering an area closed for the protection of threatened, endangered, rare, unique, or vanishing plants, animals, or fish when entering the Hanging Lake National Natural Landmark Area
  • Entering an area closed for the protection of special biological communities
  • Entering an area closed for the protection of property
  • Entering an area closed for the protection of historical, archeological, geological, or paleontological interest
  • Entering a prohibited body of water
  • Each charge holds a potential penalty of not more than six months imprisonment, not more than a $5,000 fine or both, according to the document that was filed. The U.S Attorney’s Office indicated it would not seek imprisonment

Post Independent reports that he undertook the alleged activities while awaiting a June 16 court appearance for illegally snowmobiling in designated wilderness near the summit of Independence Pass east of Aspen on July 3, 2019. Wilderness areas are closed to mechanized and motorized travel.

He is due in court on September 21st to face the six new charges.

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