Michelino Sanceri rock climbed his way to a record-breaking feat: The adventurous runner reached the summit of Grand Teton, one of the highest mountains in the American West, and then scrambled back down, all in less than three hours.
But the National Park Service didn’t celebrate. Instead, she accused him of committing a crime.
In September, Sancerre, 33, was found guilty of a misdemeanor because he spent just two minutes running on a restricted trail in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
His remarkable individual victory in 2024 has been overshadowed by his legal saga. “Free Michelino” stickers are on poles and benches in Jackson, Wyoming. Sunsiri’s supporters, including members of Congress, are dismayed by what they see as a glaring example of over-enforcement by the government.
Sunsiri has not been sentenced yet, and now he can get a break. Federal prosecutors said last week that the charge could be dismissed if he meets certain conditions over 12 months and a judge agrees. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Prosecutors have repeatedly said that the ban on shortcuts to designated trails is on the park’s website, a park map, and in the park newspaper, and is also posted on the trails. They went ahead with a two-day trial last May, despite a lack of support from officials in the new Trump administration.
Joey Wilson of Salt Lake City, a marathon runner who designs training programs for athletes, said the significance of Sancerre’s achievement is sometimes lost.
“It’s an incredible thing he’s accomplished, on a global level,” Wilson said.
Sunseri defends himself by saying he took the same route as several previous Grand Teton record holders, including Kilian Jornet, one of the best drivers in the world. The greatest mountain athletes, in 2012, without any negative reaction from the park service.
It launched on September 2, 2024, sharing the mountain with hikers over Labor Day weekend. The trail starts out flat and wide before becoming very rocky on the way up.
“There are boulders the size of small houses,” said Wilson, whose father was a park ranger. “You have to use your hands. If your hands pop in two places, you’ll fall a long way.”
Sunseri also had to face a series of switchbacks as the Garnet Canyon Trail was winding and winding like a maze. On his way down, shirtless and wearing a backwards hat, he made a split-second decision that would later land him in court: He left a setback to avoid accidental hikers and potential injury, and took a path known as the Old Climber’s Trail for two minutes.
“I was ahead of the pace,” said Sunseri, who trained by running up the mountain more than 40 times. “I knew I was going to get the record no matter what path I took. I didn’t want to yell at people to get out of my way.”
A small sign at the entrance says: “Short cutting causes erosion,” while another sign at the other end says “Closed for regrowth.” There was no vegetation to destroy on the steep, narrow, densely populated terrain, Sancerre said.
Later, Sunsiri fell to his knees from exhaustion at the base of the mountain. He set the new fastest known time in Grand Teton — “FKT” in the running community — of 2 hours, 50 minutes and 50 seconds.
Sunsiri had run a total of 13.3 miles (21.4 km) while gaining 7,000 feet (2,133 m) in elevation on his way up the mountain. The peak is located at an elevation of 13,775 feet (4,198 metres).
“I was impressed,” he recalls. “It’s one of those things where everything had to go right — and everything went right.”
Andy Anderson never got over the declines during his record-setting run in 2012, but Sunseri said he still has his blessing. They had dinner in Truckee, California, and Anderson handed over the prize: a handmade, labeled box Commemorative belt buckle He listed the names of previous Grand Teton record holders.
Sunseri wrote about his epic career on social media. Those words condemned him. Federal investigators used search warrants to gain access to the sites, resulting in a misdemeanor charge of shortcutting a designated trail in the national park.
US District Judge Stephanie Hambrick found him guilty in a 51-page opinion issued in September. She pointed to the testimony of Park Service Ranger Michelle Altizer, who said Sancerre’s “actions were outstanding” and that the ability to deter others was “very high and an important consideration” in citing him.
Sunseri’s attorneys argued that the signs on the Old Climber’s Trail did not expressly prohibit entry.
“The trail has been in its current state for decades,” Wilson told The Associated Press. “If they really wanted to close this path, they could plant seeds over it and put a piece of wood. The path is closed. Don’t cross it.”
After the spring trial, emails obtained by the defense team revealed that Park Service officials in Washington informed prosecutors on the eve of the trial that they would withdraw their support. A US Interior Department lawyer pointed to President Donald Trump’s order to “fight hypercriminalization” in federal regulations.
“We are continuing to prosecute,” Wyoming Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Romine wrote.
Because of the lawsuit, Sunseri’s performance at Grand Teton was not recognized fastknowntime.coma website for the best times on routes considered to be of great scenic or historical and cultural value around the world.
In Congress, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., is sponsoring a bill that would make intentional intent a requirement for prosecuting certain crimes, such as the Sancerre misdemeanor. He called the case “a prime example of the problem of over-criminalization.”