Nebraska woman arrested, fined for climbing Mount Rushmore

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – A Nebraska woman has been fined $1,000 for illegally climbing Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

Authorities say Alexandria Incontro scaled the massive sculpture without a rope in bare feet last Friday, making it about 15 feet from the top of the granite mountain.

A number of signs on the presidential monument warn people not to trespass or climb the sculpture. The Omaha woman pleaded guilty to climbing the monument during a federal court appearance in Rapid City Monday. Three other charges, including trespassing, were dropped.

Incontro took a route up the mountain between George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, whose faces are about 60 feet high. An officer convinced Incontro to come down and she was handcuffed and arrested.

AP-WF-07-16-19 1225GMT