Look at the incredible eruptions of this giant geyser 0:51
(CNN) -
A Connecticut woman who walked directly onto the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park in July was sentenced to seven days in jail, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Madeline S. Casey, 26, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor, according to a statement from the Wyoming District Attorney's Office.
"While criminal prosecution and jail time may seem tough, it is better than spending time in a hospital burn unit," said Acting Attorney Bob Murray.
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In July, at the park's Norris Geyser Basin, Casey and another person left a sheltered passage, approached a hot spring pit, and walked directly on the ground around it.
Nearby signs instruct visitors to stay on the boardwalk.
"The soil is fragile and thin and the water just below the surface is boiling and can cause severe or fatal burns. More than 20 people have died from burns sustained after entering or falling into the Yellowstone hot springs," he said. park spokesman Morgan Warthin in the statement.
A judge ordered Casey to pay $ 2,040 in compensation, fees and community services, according to court documents.
His jail time must be served by January 31, 2022, and he is barred from the park during his two years of probation.
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Casey and her attorney, Ryan Wright, did not respond to CNN's request for comment on Thursday.
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The authorities have insisted on the importance of respecting the safety signs in the national park.
In May of last year, a woman suffered burns after falling into a Yellowstone hot spring when it was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The woman told park guards that she was backing up to take some photos when she fell into the Old Faithful geyser, one of the most famous in the world.
Last year, two men were caught invading the Old Faithful geyser cone, which is a hot spring area closed to the public.
They were sentenced to 10 days in jail and five years of probation.
They were also ordered to pay compensation of US $ 540 and banned from the park for five years.
"Visitors should know that walking through the hot springs is dangerous, damages the environment and is illegal," said Sarah Davis, chief of park guards, in connection with the sentence.
"The officers take this violation very seriously."
Geyser Yellowstone National Park