Recently, a British “film crew” was reportedly detained for trying to shoot a UFO conspiracy documentary on the Air Force base in Nevada known in folklore as Area 51.
The Air Force would not comment about the alleged incident at the base, formally known as the Air Force’s Nevada Test and Training Range Complex.
“The range is used for the testing of technologies and systems and training for operations critical to the effectiveness of U.S. military forces and the security of the United States,” Air Combat Command spokesman Col. Todd Vician said in an email. “There is an operating location near Groom dry lake. Some specific activities and operations conducted on the Nevada Test and Training Range, both past and present, remain classified and cannot be discussed.”
In general, people who trespass on U.S. military installations face a variety of penalties, ranging from being barred from entering the installation again to being charged with a felony or misdemeanor, said Brig. Gen. Allen J. Jamerson, director of security forces.
“Most are misdemeanors and will be penalized with a fine that varies according to the local applicable laws,” Jamerson said in an emailed response to questions. “Some trespassing incidents can result in felony charges in cases when the violator demonstrates malicious intent and/or the incident involves high value resources.”
Trespassers charged with felonies could face jail time, but that would be determined by law enforcement officials, not the Air Force, he said. A trespassing conviction will normally go on your permanent record.
David MacDonald, director of the Mutual UFO Network, does not advise UFO enthusiasts to try to sneak onto military bases like the film crew in Nevada.
“That’s the damn dumbest thing I can ever imagine,” he said. “Those guys have guns.”
