Devin Michael Cuellar, a man who illegally occupied a vacation home in Yosemite National Park and caused extensive damage, has been sentenced to five years in prison for firearms offenses. Cuellar, 29, was found to have unlawfully stayed at a property in Wawona, California, for several months during the summer of 2021, according to a federal criminal complaint.
The homeowner became aware of the squatter when she visited the property in August 2021. To her dismay, she discovered that the kitchen, yard, bathroom, bedrooms, and living room were strewn with furniture, clothing, tools, and garbage. The complaint also revealed the presence of drug paraphernalia and stolen items, including golf clubs and tools. The homeowner informed authorities that she had last visited the property in April or May of that year and had left it in a tidy and clean condition.
Upon investigating the property, authorities found mail containing Cuellar’s name, linking him to the squatting incident. Subsequently, on September 28, 2021, park rangers patrolling the area noticed that the sliding glass door of the home was open. It was then discovered that several walls inside the property had been defaced with derogatory language. In a subsequent search, the homeowner uncovered a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition.
The criminal complaint states that Cuellar was acquainted with the homeowner’s daughter but had not received permission to reside in the property. Court documents reveal that due to a previous conviction for carjacking and possessing a controlled substance, he was prohibited from possessing firearms. Consequently, he faced multiple indictments, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon, unlawful use of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm and ammunition, destruction of property, and possession of stolen property.
In May, Cuellar pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, resulting in the dismissal of the other charges. He has now been sentenced to five years and three months in prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced the sentencing, while Cuellar’s attorney has yet to comment on the matter. This news article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
