Brosnan gets in hot water for Yellowstone stroll

CASPER (WNE) — As James Bond, he had a license to kill — to go wherever and do whatever he wanted. Real life isn’t quite the same.

Actor Pierce Brosnan has been fined $1,540 for walking in a protected thermal area at Yellowstone National Park.

In November, Brosnan uploaded pictures of himself at Mammoth Hot Springs to Instagram. And, while he avoided falling into the springs’ 160-degree water – hot enough to kill most bacteria, quickly cause third-degree burns and perhaps poach an egg — Brosnan didn’t avoid some legal hot water.

Signs in the area warn visitors of the dangers of thermal features and state that visitors must remain on the designated boardwalks and trails, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming which charged Brosnan for his ill-advised stroll.

Citing the photo as evidence of the deed, the United States Attorney’s Office asked the court to sentence Brosnan to 2 years of probation and the maximum fine of $5,000.

Brosnan, of Malibu, California, didn’t dispute the claim and pleaded guilty.

On Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick ordered Brosnan to pay a $500 fine, a $1,000 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund, a $30 court processing fee and a $10 special assessment.

Hambrick dismissed a minor charge for violating closures and use limits.

Brosnan could have faced jail time and been banned from the park.

In a press release announcing the sentence, the National Park Service reminded Yellowstone visitors that the ground in thermal areas is fragile and thin, and scalding water is just below the surface. Therefore, trespassing on thermal features is dangerous and can harm delicate natural resources within the park, said the Park Service which is entrusted with protecting the hydrothermal areas as much as visitors.

This story was published on March 16, 2024.