Facing a potential fine of $5,000 and six months in prison, TikTok star Katie Sigmond only paid a fine of $285 for hitting a golf ball into the Grand Canyon, an amount that didn’t sit well with online commenters who didn’t believe the fine fit the crime.
In October, Sigmond posted video online showing her hitting the golf ball into the canyon near Mather Point; the club flew off the handle and also went into the canyon.
Subsequently, she took down the video, but it was preserved on Reddit.
Law enforcement subsequently tracked her down and she was charged with three Class B misdemeanors, as reported by The Arizona Republic:
She was only cited for disorderly conduct and tossing or throwing items into the canyon, which carry a maximum fine of $5,000 and six months in prison, according to a copy of the written record of the collateral forfeiture agreement that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona provided to The Arizona Republic.
Sigmond was ordered to pay a $285 fine, which includes $60 in processing fees. A spokesman for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts confirmed to The Republic that the Central Violations Bureau received two payments of $155 and $130 from Katie Sigmond on Nov. 15.
Not surprisingly, commenters were critical over the amount of the fine.
Among the comments on the Grand Canyon National Park Facebook page, the Arizona Republic Facebook page and Katie Sigmond’s Instagram account:
“Please increase the penalty for littering or pulling stupid stunts to deter further damage. Less than $300 is not a deterrent.”
“Should’ve given max fine of $5k.”
“Still cheaper than a meal and a few drinks at Top Golf.”
“A trip to Disneyland cost more than her fine.”
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“Let’s see. Fine her a few hundred dollars while she made $1000s off of the video. Act naive about it. Real smart business she has going on.”
“Should have locked her up.”
“Too bad she didn’t get the full 5k fine.
“She got off cheap. I thought it was $1,000 fine to litter.”
Sigmond has 6.9 million followers on TikTok and another 3 million on Instagram.