EMPIRE, Mich. (AP) — A man accused of diverting a national park river to ease boat access to Lake Michigan has been convicted of two misdemeanors. Andrew Howard of Frankfort was found guilty of tampering and vandalism Wednesday during a brief trial in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent. In August 2022, a National Park Service ranger witnessed Howard digging with a shovel so the Platte River in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore would be diverted into one of the Great Lakes, prosecutors said in a court filing. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said Howard had a policy dispute with the National Park Service and “took matters into his own hands.”The Park Service no longer dredges the Platte River. As a result, sediment and sand build up, reducing the ability to get boats to Lake Michigan.

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Persons: Andrew Howard of Frankfort, Judge Ray Kent, Howard, Lauren Biksacky, Attorney Mark Totten, “ Organizations: U.S, National Park Service, Associated Press, Attorney, Service Locations: Mich, Lake Michigan, Platte