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Yosemite Convicts Three for Illegal BASE Jumps as Rangers Pursue More Cases

Park officials point to a longstanding federal ban rooted in safety concerns.

Overview

  • Christopher I. Durell pleaded guilty for a July 15, 2024 North Dome jump and received 18 months of unsupervised probation, a $600 fine, 40 hours of community service, and forfeiture of his BASE canopy and wingsuit.
  • Joshua A. Iosue pleaded guilty in the same North Dome incident and was sentenced to two days in jail, 24 months of unsupervised probation, $2,510 in fines, and a prohibition on entering Yosemite during probation.
  • David A. Nunn admitted to a 2020 El Capitan jump that ended in a crash and NPS rescue and was sentenced to two days in jail, 12 months of unsupervised probation, a $760 fine, $458.77 in restitution, a probationary park ban, and forfeiture of his parachute and harness.
  • The National Park Service cites 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3) as the legal basis for prosecuting BASE jumps, noting Yosemite’s prohibition dates to the 1980s.
  • NPS says it is investigating three additional 2025 cases, while recent reports describe increased illegal jumps during the federal government shutdown.