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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 18 september 2019

Dutch men who wanted Area 51 video get jail for trespass

By KEN RITTER ahead of events this week 10 in a car inside a site gate most twice the size of Dela- , Sweep and Granzier say
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Two stemming from an internet near Mercury. ware where the Air Force they'll return to the Nether-
Dutch tourists who told au- hoax inviting people to a The security site covers an conducts training in aerial lands after their expected
thorities they wanted to remote once-secret U.S. Air area almost the size of the combat and bombing and release Thursday.
take video of Area 51 have Force test site more than 20 U.S. state of Rhode Island. tests stealth aircraft. Access "We didn't want to cause
pleaded guilty to misde- miles (32.2 kilometers) from It is separate but adjacent to Area 51 is prohibited. any trouble," Granzier said.
meanor trespass and illegal where Sweep and Granzier to the Nevada Test and In a Nye County sheriff's "It has all gone a little out of
parking following their ar- were arrested. Training Range, an area al- office video news release hand."q

This image taken from video posted by the Nye County Sheriff's
Office on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019, shows a recorded police in-
terview with Dutch tourists Ties Granzier, left, and Govert Sweep,
in the Nye County Jail in Pahrump, Nev.
Associated Press

rests at a different secure An unknown number of
U.S. government site in Ne- people are expected at
vada. events now planned in the
A judge on Monday sen- tiny Nevada desert towns
tenced Govert Sweep, 21, of Rachel and Hiko, and
and Ties Granzier, 20, to 10 the originator of the inter-
days in county jail, but said net hoax plans to host an
they can be released in event in downtown Las Ve-
three days if they pay fines gas.
of $2,280 apiece. Nye County prosecutor
The men also surrendered Chris Arabia said Sweep
computer and camera and Granzier could face
equipment and an aerial a more serious conspiracy
drone that their attorneys, charge if they are found
Adam Solinger and Mi- again at the Nevada Na-
chael Becker in Las Vegas, tional Security Site — a vast
valued at about $10,000. posted and patrolled area
"This is all about deterrence about 90 miles (145 kilome-
because of 'Storm Area ters) northwest of Las Ve-
51,'" Solinger said Tuesday gas where the government
of the sentences. conducted nuclear weap-
His clients had planned to ons tests from 1945 to 1992.
post video on the internet The two were arrested Sept.