It seems as though criminals getting themselves busted after oversharing their crimes on social media is commonplace these days. Just over the past year, there have been actual instances of robberies posted on Facebook and even people Periscoping themselves drinking and driving and carrying out other types of crimes. But we certainly didn’t expect someone like Vanessa Hudgens to be someone who would put herself in such a bind.
However, Vanessa Hudgens, best known for her role as Gabriella Montez in the highly popular High School Musical series, could very well be in some serious trouble. While celebrating Valentine’s Day in Sedona, Arizona with her boyfriend, Austin Butler, it seems that the star may have illegally carved “Austin + Vanessa” in a heart onto a rock formation at the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, according to TMZ.
And, to make matters worse for the star, she posted a photo of the carving on Instagram. Although the image has since been removed, it not only inspired a criminal investigation, but the locals are also not too happy with Hudgens.
Authorities are currently searching for the rock in the Instagram photo, but there’s no doubt that either Hudgens or Butler are responsible for the engraving. Not only was the image posted to Hudgen’s Instagram account, but she also tagged Butler in the posting and included the hashtag #sedonadreams. To fans of the star, the engraving may seem a harmless way for Hudgens and Butler to express their love in a sort of old-school manner. The forest’s public affairs office, however, takes the matter much more seriously, and told The Post, “Carving of any kind affects the natural beauty of the area,” and “when one person carves something, it encourages others to carve.”
According to TMZ, punishment for violating the federal law prohibiting “damaging natural surfaces or property of the United States” can include a fine of $5,000 and/or six months in jail.
It isn’t yet clear whether or not authorities will prosecute Hudgens and Butler, but in the future, the couple may want to find less damaging, and less illegal, ways to celebrate their relationship.