Five out of the six men involved in a supercar racing incident in Grand Teton National Park this summer were sentenced last week, while a YouTube star is still facing prosecution for federal misdemeanor charges.
Edmond Barseghian, whose case is still pending, had a status conference Sept. 23, presided over by Mammoth Court Magistrate Judge Stephanie Hambrick.
The result of that was the scheduling of another status conference, for Oct. 28. Barseghian operates a popular YouTube channel devoted to supercars and car racing.
But five other men caught and charged in the drag-racing spree, which unfolded June 24 during a bigger supercar rally that passed through Teton County, were sentenced last week.
Four were placed on probation and temporarily banned from Grand Teton National Park. All five were fined.
Emmanuel Elkhoury was fined $650, and charged $40 in costs and fees, for careless operation of a vehicle, according to a minutes sheet of his sentencing hearing.
Drake Okonski was convicted of drug possession, sentenced to two years’ unsupervised probation, and fined $750, plus $40 in costs and fees.
He’s banned from Grand Teton National Park during his probation.
Elijah Chen was convicted of trespassing, fined $750 plus $40 in costs and fees, and banned from the park over a two-year unsupervised probation term, says his hearing minutes sheet.
Jarrod Pellizzer was convicted of careless driving and failure to display a license plate as required. He was fined $750 plus $40 in costs and fees, and banned from the park over a two-year unsupervised probation term.
Zane Goodwin was fined $1,000 for careless driving, plus ordered to pay $40 in costs and fees. His two-year probation term also includes a park ban, court documents say.
Their attorney Philip Abromats could not be reached immediately for comment.
The Star
Barseghian, whose Teton County Detention Center booking photo matches the YouTube persona “Mondi,” has posted videos featuring exotic cars, modifications, and thrill rides in beautiful landscapes.
In one video, Mondi speeds a modified Porsche 993 GT2 through a canyon.
“This is the only car that’s ever frightened me,” he says of the little red sports car. “You guys are about to experience what 600-wheel horsepower does.”
He lists three other Porsches he owns and says he’s going to pit them against each other at the track.
In another video, he bemoans the neutral stock color of a Carrera GT and said he plans to give it a $250,000 “makeover” to make it “pop.” The result is a stealthy chromed green.
And in a third video, Mondi goes to the Sakhir, Bahrain, International Circuit to “rookie-test” racecars with a Lamborghini crew.
Through The Park
Grand Teton National Park’s statement from late June says park rangers responded at about 5 p.m. June 24 to reports of multiple high-end luxury sports cars drag racing down both lanes of the Teton Park Road “and creating a variety of hazardous driving conditions for other visitors.”
Visitors, park employees and wildlife all use that road, the statement says.
Park rangers found the racers and conducted traffic stops at several locations in the park, leading to four people being arrested.
Twelve rangers were involved in the operation. Two cars were impounded, the statement says.
"This kind of behavior is unsafe, irresponsible and completely unacceptable in a national park," said Grand Teton Superintendent Chip Jenkins in the statement. "It puts visitors, staff, and wildlife at serious risk."
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
