FRESNO, Calif. (WTAQ-WLUK) — A man from Appleton was sentenced Monday for assaulting a ranger at Yosemite National Park.
32-year-old Michael Valencia received a sentence of time served, followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting a federal officer, interfering with a government employee engaged in official duties and camping without a permit.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, in June and July 2024:
Valencia began misusing the 911 emergency system that serves Yosemite National Park by making a series of non-emergency calls intended to harass dispatchers and law enforcement officers. Investigators identified the source and location of the calls and hiked to the location where Valencia had been camping without a permit for an extended time. Valencia stated that if he had had a gun, he would have shot one of the rangers. Valencia then punched and injured one of the rangers who served citations to Valencia.
Authorities said Valencia has been in custody since his arrest in July 2024. He pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2026.
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