Utah Booby Traps Send Two Men to Jail

Utah booby traps kind of sounds like the name of a really unpopular small town indie rock band, though it’s actually something a bit more sinister. The next time you decide to take a leisurely s...
Utah Booby Traps Send Two Men to Jail
Written by WebProNews
  • Utah booby traps kind of sounds like the name of a really unpopular small town indie rock band, though it’s actually something a bit more sinister.

    The next time you decide to take a leisurely stroll with your family and friends through the Utah wilderness, you might want to keep a sharp eye out for booby traps. That’s right — booby traps, devices that were seemingly constructed while watching “The Goonies” and various Road Runner cartoons back-to-back for days on end.

    All kidding aside, the discovery of the traps is actually pretty serious business. They were spotted by U.S. Forest Service Officer James Schoeffler, a man whose job is keep a close eye out for peculiar situations such as this. Schoeffler spent 12 years dismantling bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan for the military, so he’s prepared to handle these sort of problems. However, I’m sure he never dreamed of encountering anything this bizarre while patrolling the Utah wilderness.

    Upon receiving an anonymous tip, Schoeffler took a trip to a popular canyon trailer in Provo, an area that’s frequented by law-abiding citizens and troublemakers alike. After scouting around for a bit, the seasoned officer discovered a series of potentially deadly traps outside of a well-known, heavily-trafficked makeshift fort.

    The traps, which were constructed using high-quality, heavy duty materials, included a spiked boulder attached to a trip wire and a pit full of extremely sharp spikes. You know, typical low-budget late-night movie kind of stuff. This discovery was particularly distressing to authorities since anyone could have fallen prey to the traps, particularly individuals visiting the area at night.

    “When you look at those things, you just get chills down your spine,” the Utah County sheriff’s sergeant explained to the Los Angeles Times.

    The investigation soon led authorities to a pair of would-be hunters, who claim that the traps were meant for wildlife, including “wild boards and bunnies”. Problem is, Utah isn’t known for its wild boars. Since the Acme-flavored booby traps were discovered before anyone was harmed, the men can only be charged with reckless endangerment, which is only a misdemeanor.

    Get the WebProNews newsletter delivered to your inbox

    Get the free daily newsletter read by decision makers

    Subscribe
    Advertise with Us

    Ready to get started?

    Get our media kit