A man was arrested this week over allegations that in 2023 he threw cash at an Acadia National Park employee and pounded on the booth door when he was told the worker could only accept credit or debit cards.
Jason Langley, 39, is charged with one count each of simple assault and disorderly conduct in U.S. District Court of Maine in Bangor. He was arrested Tuesday in the town of Penobscot.
The charges stem from an Oct. 9, 2023, visit where Langley, a front seat passenger, and three other people entered the park through the Sand Beach entrance, according to a probable cause affidavit. He is also accused of ripping up citations and refusing to pay the tickets.
Langley was arrested for the alleged 2023 assault the same week Acadia announced it was ending cash payment for fees as of April 15. Cash makes up less than 5 percent of the park’s transactions.
“Jason denies committing any crime and looks forward to defending himself against these allegations,” his attorney Matthew Morgan said.
Around 3:17 p.m., on Oct. 9, 2023, the group at the gate wanted to buy an annual pass and the gate employee said she could accept a credit or debit card. Langley then allegedly started arguing with the woman, saying the government makes the money, so they have to take it, the affidavit said.
The driver of the car handed the employee a credit card for payment and she turned to process it, when Langley then threw cash and his wallet at her, the affidavit said. The wallet hit the employee’s side.
At that point the employee closed the booth’s window and shade. Langley then started pounding on the window and door, saying he wanted his wallet back, the affidavit said.
The employee cracked the door open and handed back Langley’s wallet and the driver’s credit card. She let the vehicle go through the gate without paying, the affidavit said. The employee had radioed the park ranger dispatch, and Ranger Michael Ausema told her to let the car through to deescalate the situation.
The employee peeked through the window shade and got the license plate of the car, the affidavit said.
Another park ranger found the car within 20 minutes, but it was empty. The ranger waited for the occupants to return, which they did about 10 minutes later, the affidavit said.
After the people got in the car, the ranger activated her emergency lights. The driver and Langley then immediately exited the car, the affidavit said.
The ranger ordered them to get back in the car twice, and the driver did so, the affidavit said. Langley refused, so the ranger radioed for backup and Langley then got back in the car.
Ausema responded as the backup ranger and went to Langley’s window. Langley then started arguing with Ausema that it’s illegal for the park to not accept cash, according to the affidavit.
Langley was told the reason park rangers were there was because of his alleged conduct and the lack of proof of payment in the car’s windshield. Langley confirmed they hadn’t paid to enter the park and said they were given the money back, the affidavit said.
Ausema issued Langley two citations for his actions, the affidavit said. Langley ripped up both citations, according to the affidavit.
Langley has not appeared in court for the tickets and has not paid them, Ausema said in the affidavit.
After Langley’s first court appearance Wednesday, he was granted a personal recognizance bond, which means he was released without posting money.
The misdemeanor charges each carry a maximum of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
