Yellowstone tourist gets jail sentence for assaulting officers

A California man has been sentenced to nine months in jail for assaulting officers last September in Yellowstone National Park.

Benjamin J. Bagala, 27, of Santa Rosa, pleaded guilty to three counts of assaulting, resisting, and impeding officers during a belligerent outburst at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel on Sept. 25.

Bagala also pleaded guilty to one count of depredation against U.S. property and must pay $2,865.42 in restitution.

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U.S. District Atty. Bob Murray announced Wednesday that Bagala, who appeared via Zoom before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman, was ordered to surrender on or before March 4.

Besides the nine-month jail sentence, Bagala received one year of supervised release with special conditions that include a ban on entering the park.

Lake Yellowstone Hotel

According to a Department of Justice news release, evidence showed that Bagala had been drinking heavily before he began to harass guests and threaten a security guard.

A park law enforcement officer also was assaulted and deployed his taser “to safely gain control” of the situation.

Bagala was found to have injured himself during his outbursts and two additional officers arrived to transport him via ambulance to Livingston Hospital in Montana.

During the ride, Bagala broke free of his restraints and “fought with” the officer who was riding with him in back. The second officer helped restrain Bagala and both officers received injuries.

Items that Bagala damaged at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel included plates, doors, light fixtures, and plexiglass shields. His blood was splattered in and beyond the lobby.

The Lake Yellowstone Hotel, built in 1891, is a designated U.S. National Historical Landmark.

–Images courtesy of Yellowstone National Park