Yosemite National Park Ranger Assault Ends in Sentencing of Wisconsin Man

A Wisconsin man who assaulted a National Park Service ranger and repeatedly misused Yosemite National Park’s 911 emergency system was sentenced Monday to time served and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

Michael Anthony Valencia, 32, of Appleton, Wisconsin, was sentenced after pleading guilty to assaulting a federal officer, interfering with a government employee engaged in official duties and camping without a permit, according to prosecutors.

Court documents showed that beginning in June 2024 and continuing through July 22, 2024, Valencia made a series of non-emergency calls to Yosemite National Park’s 911 system that were intended to harass dispatchers and law enforcement officers.

Investigators traced the calls to a location where Valencia had been camping without a permit for an extended period. Rangers hiked to the site and contacted him.

According to prosecutors, Valencia told the rangers that if he had a gun, he would have shot one of them. He then punched and injured a ranger who had served him citations.

Valencia has remained in custody since his arrest in July 2024 and pleaded guilty March 23.

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