Actress Vanessa Hudgens and her beau Austin Butler may be in trouble with the law after an Instagram photo the “High School Musical” star posted shows their first names carved into some distinctive Arizona red rock. Authorities believe that the defaced rock in question is located in or around Sedona in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. Put simply: you are not supposed to carve things into these rocks–and if it’s determined that Hudgens and Butler did so, they could be on the hook for a $5,000 fine and up to six months in prison.

Actress Vanessa Hudgens comes under fire for photo showing names carved into rock in AZ.https://t.co/ejBgJaLbeDpic.twitter.com/Cbzqa9Xmjf

— FOX 12 Oregon KPTV (@fox12oregon) February 16, 2016

If they did carve their names into one of the famous Arizona red rocks, Hudgens and Butler may have broken a law that criminalizes “damaging natural surfaces or property of the United States.” While the Instagram post with the carved rock has since been taken down, when it was still up it featured the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day boo boo bears.” Additionally, other pictures of Hudgens and Butler from their romantic vacation with the hashtag #SedonaDreams remain on Instagram.

The incident is now allegedly under investigation. Brady Smith, a Coconino National Forest spokesman said he is not sure whether or not the investigators have managed to locate the rock on which Hudgens and Butler scratched their undying love, especially given that it could be essentially anywhere within the 250-square mile Red Rock Ranger District. They are also apparently looking for more evidence on social media, and trying to locate any witnesses.

Hudgens and Butler probably shouldn’t be too worried–it’s doubtful that they’ll actually face any jail time for their carvings. But they may have to pay a fine, which could range from $100-$5,000, and they may end up with misdemeanors on their records. While there apparently aren’t any signs that expressly tell visitors not to carve into the rocks, it stands to reason that it’s common sense not to deface national land. Hudgens and Butler, therefore, may have to pay for that lack of common sense in this instance.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Hey y’all!

One hundred fifty-four years ago this week, citizens across the great state of Texas voted by a wide margin to secede from the United States. This vote finalized the state’s intentions of joining the Confederacy in the Civil War. Of course, the state declared the Ordinance of Secession null and void five years later in 1866. But those five years are something that most proud Texans hold on to for dear life. There are even some people in the state who actually think it is something we should do again.

The group Republic of Texas held a Valentine’s Day meeting  that was raided by several different law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Brazos and Kerr County Sheriffs’ departments, the Texas District Attorney’s office, the Bryan Police Department, and my personal favorite, the Texas Rangers (the law enforcement group, not the baseball team). The meeting was held in Bryan, Texas, about 100 miles northwest of Houston.

I can just imagine Chuck Norris kicking down the doors of a meeting hall where this event took place and these guys getting a what’s what kind of talking to.

Courtesy of Giphy.

Apparently the Republic of Texas group actually believes that Texas was unlawfully annexed in 1845 and should be recognized again as an independent nation. Sure, maybe this seems like a normal day in Texas–Texans sitting around talking about “the good ol’ days” (when none of us was actually alive) and how Texas would do so much better as a country of its own than attached to the whole of the United States. It’s just nuts to think that there are people who are actively seeking legal ways to make this happen.

You must be wondering why this silly group of people was raided on the most romantic holiday of the year. Well, instead of tending to their sweethearts, the group decided it was the right time to “simulate legal process.” They sent a legal summons to a Kerr County judge and banker to appear before the group’s “court” over the foreclosure of a residence belonging to a member of the group.

Wait. What!?! What exactly does a foreclosure have to do with seceding from the union, or anything with the state of Texas? Absolutely nothing.

Kerr County Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer told the Houston Chronicle that this group has had many dealings with the County and City police, “flooding the court with simulated documents.” Also known as wasting the government’s time and killing trees for a lost cause.

Though I was born in Germany I am definitely a fifth-generation Houstonian and I take serious pride in all things Texas, but even I have a hard time truly believing that seceding from the union would be a good idea. Sure, Texas is the greatest state in the country, but I don’t think it would be as great without the rest of the states and the federal government.

Let’s keep talking and dreaming about seceding, but let’s not actually do it. That would just be foolish. Plus, we usually have a Texan in the White House every couple of Presidents, anyway.

Allison Dawson

Allison Dawson was born in Germany and raised in Mississippi and Texas. A graduate of Texas Tech University and Arizona State University, she’s currently dedicating her life to studying for the LSAT. Twitter junkie. Conservative. Get in touch with Allison at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Texans Trying to Secede…Again appeared first on Law Street.

Love. This chemical cocktail of adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin has the power every year to make people all over the world get all kinds of gushy in celebration of Valentine’s Day. But love isn’t all flowers and candy. This complex emotion can turn once sane individuals into lovestruck lunatics, and even criminals.

Check out the slideshow below to see just how love can turn illegal with these bizarre crimes that will have you saying “WTF”!

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Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Love Gone Wrong: Top WTF Crimes Involving Couples appeared first on Law Street.

You may have heard of a small erotic “novel” (I use the term loosely), which once started off as Twilight fan fiction and has become a worldwide, bestselling trilogy soon to be a major motion picture. I am of course referring to the phenomenon known as Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James, which follows the story of timid Anastasia Steele and her BDSM-loving boyfriend Christian Grey.

I take several issues with the books, not the least of which being the absolutely atrocious writing. I tried and failed to get through the first book mainly due to the horrible prose, but also because–like the series it is based off of–the main relationship is so obviously abusive.

If you haven’t put yourself through the torture of reading them, don’t worry! You can see the whole toxic love story play out on the big screen when it comes out on Valentine’s Day (no obvious commercialization there…). I would never pay money to see it, though I am curious as to whether the movie will portray the undertones of abuse and rape that were so prevalent in the books.

Please note, this is not a critique on people who live a BDSM sexual lifestyle. It is my understanding that those who do follow strict rules to maintain safety and enjoyment for everyone involved. In Fifty Shades of Grey, that is not really the case. Christian Grey uses his role of Dominant to ensure Anastasia’s submissiveness in literally every aspect of her life. It is fiction, but unfortunately, many women live in a constant state of fear from their physically and mentally abusive and controlling partners–men like Christian Grey. These women do not give their permission to be treated thus, but instead are forced to stay in violent relationships based on threats and low self-esteem.

This sort of abuse should not be romanticized, yet that is what we find in this best-selling trilogy, lauded for allowing women the freedom to express their sexuality. While it certainly did bring romantic literature to the forefront and got millions interested in bondage and S&M, women’s sexuality is so much more complex than what the dangerous story line in these books portrays. If we are looking for a book that encompasses and celebrates a woman’s right to whatever sexual fetishes she chooses, there are definitely better stories (and better written stories) out there.

So this Valentine’s Day, instead of celebrating and encouraging abuse, let’s celebrate the stories of those survivors who got away from toxic relationships, and bring attention to the fact that domestic violence and rape are very real, very horrible things that exist in our world.

For more information on how you can prevent abusive relationships, visit the National Domestic Violence hotline website.

Morgan McMurray

Morgan McMurray is an editor and gender equality blogger based in Seattle, Washington. A 2013 graduate of Iowa State University, she has a Bachelor of Arts in English, Journalism, and International Studies. She spends her free time writing, reading, teaching dance classes, and binge-watching Netflix. Contact Morgan at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

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