Booking photo of Brian Gene Smith from Lake County Sheriff's Office

A California man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges for removing numerous artifacts from archaeological sites in Lake County.

Brian Gene Smith 41, allegedly kept notes of the locations where he took the items. Some may have been removed burial grounds near Clear Lake, where drought conditions have exposed archaeological sites dating back tens of thousands of years.

Smith was arrested on Saturday, just two days after the county sheriff's office completed training on archaeological crimes. The Koi Nation, whose leaders have taken a strong interest in protecting historic sites, asked local law enforcement to attend the session.

“This is the beginning of expanding collaborative efforts to make our community a safer place,” Dino Beltran, the tribe's administrator, told The Lake County News.

Smith is charged with felony counts of possession of American Indian artifacts and vandalism, and misdemeanors including removing or injuring any object of archaeological or historical interest.

Get the Story:
Archaeological looting case illustrates threat to native culture; new collaboration tackles problem (The Lake County News 8/27)
Lake County man suspected of looting archaeological sites (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 8/27)
Native American artifacts found in van (The Lake County Record-Bee 8/26)