Two Dolores men were sentenced in Durango federal court on Thursday for disturbing an archaeological site on public lands near Dolores.

Donald Leonard Johnson and his son, Donald Wayne, were sentenced to pay fines of $500 each, and a total of $1,028 in restitution for cleanup of the site.

The two were also given a two-year supervised probation, during which time they are not allowed to set foot on the San Juan National Forest.

Investigators say the father and son, who operate D & W Collectibles in Dolores, were cited Sept. 16 by Forest Service law-enforcement officer Patrick Brown after he received a tip from two witnesses in the area.

According to Forest Service special agent Brenda Schultz, the Johnsons were seen at the edge of McPhee Reservoir on Sept. 16 moving rocks from a rubble mound of Anasazi artifacts, known in archaeological terms as a lithic scatter.

But because of eyewitness reports, the two were convicted of looting a historic site on federal land, a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to six months in jail and up to $5,000 in fines.

"They had arrowheads in their pockets and said that they only look for artifacts on private land when they have permission," Schultz told the Journal after their conviction in July.

Laura Kochanski, the Forest Service archaeologist who repaired the damage to the archaeological site, said the restitution paid for the time it took for her to document the damage, repair and backfill it. Kochanski said the two dug numerous holes in the rock-mound site.

"It was pretty much turning and pulling out rocks and digging in the site," explained Kochanski.

Historic sites, including ancient burial sites on public lands, are protected under federal law, but incidents of vandalism are high around McPhee Reservoir. The perpetrators are rarely caught, according to officials.

But the Johnsons were seen in the act, and the witnesses reported the incident to the Forest Service, which made the difference, Kochanski said.

"Vandalism occurs all the time, and the perpetrators are never caught," said Kochanski. "It’s great when the public calls us with tips."