A Hilo man was convicted Wednesday for disobeying a Volcanoes National Park ranger’s order to stop flying his drone in the park.

After a two-day bench trial in United States District Court, United States Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi found Travis R. Sanders, 36, of Hilo, of violating a lawful order of a United States Park Ranger and sentenced him to pay a $1,000 fine.

Sanders was in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park during the evening of April 25, 2015. According to the evidence presented at trial, Sanders was flying a drone over a crowd gathered to view the Halema’uma’u crater. It is unlawful to fly a drone in a national park.

A United States Park Ranger identified himself as a law enforcement officer and ordered Sanders to bring down the drone. Sanders initially refused, then eventually landed the drone.

After Sanders refused to identify himself upon request of the ranger, the ranger attempted to place Sanders in custody and Sanders fled. The ranger ordered Sanders to stop, which Sanders refused to do. The ranger then used his taser to apprehend Sanders and took him into custody.

In addition to having to pay the fine, Sanders is banned from the park for one year.

Hilo man convicted for illegally flying drone at Volcanoes National Park