Vanessa Hudgens Ordered to Pay $1,000 Fine for Vandalizing National Forest

The actress found herself in legal trouble after posting a picture of a heart she carved into a red rock wall in Arizona

Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Vanessa Hudgens has agreed to pay a $1,000 fine after vandalizing U.S. Forest Service land in Sedona, Arizona, earlier this year, the Associated Press reports.

Around Valentine’s Day, the actress posted a (now-deleted) picture on Instagram of a heart bearing her name and that of boyfriend Austin Butler carved into a red rock wall in the Coconino National Forest.

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After the photo drew Forest Service officials’ attention, Hudgens, 27, was issued a citation on a misdemeanor count of damaging a natural feature on protected land. This misdemeanor is punishable by up to six months’ jail time and a $5,000 fine.

Hudgens admitted she had vandalized the rock and told authorities where to find the carving in February. The agreement was reached on April 19 and not made public until obtained by the AP this week. Her fine was used by a volunteer group called Friends of the Forest to restore the rock wall.

A rep for Hudgens did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Coconino National Forest Service spokesman Brady Smith told the AP that although many visitors’ vandalism goes unpunished, Hudgens’ celebrity led to her being caught and fined.

“She was caught in the act because she publicized it and she’s famous,” Smith said. “I’m sure there are others who are not famous and publicized it and we’ve never known.”