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UPDATE: Ohio Historian Pleads Not Guilty in Protected Rock Case Save Email Print
Posted: 8:56 AM Jul 24, 2008
 Last Updated: 3:04 PM Jul 24, 2008
 Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
52 comments
A | A | A

GREENUP, Ky. (WSAZ) - An Ohio historian pleaded not guilty Thursday to an indictment charging him with leading efforts to pull an 8-ton Indian Head Rock from the Ohio River.

A grand jury in Greenup County indicted Steve Shaffer last month. He is accused of breaking Kentucky law by removing a protected archaeological object, a felony.

If convicted, Shaffer could face one to five years in prison. A judge set a pre-trial hearing for October 16th for Shaffer and kept his bond at $5,000.

Also Thursday, a grand jury returned a second indictment in this case, charging David Vetter, who was part of the recovery team.

The rock's removal has caused a dispute between Shaffer and officials in Kentucky who insist it belongs in their state.

Shaffer says he saved it from being damaged or lost forever. It now sits in a city garage in Portsmouth, Ohio.

The rock was once a navigation marker and an attraction for locals, but it hadn't been seen since the 1920s.
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Posted by: BillB on Aug 11, 2008 at 06:24 AM
to Bonita Aug 10: Are you saying it is ok to conment somes crimes? Is so let me know which ones.
Posted by: Bonita on Aug 10, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Are Yall serious????? A rock is an inanimate object, not a human being. I would think there is a greater need to spend taxpayers money on unsolved crimes or uneducated kids. If this is the best you can come up with I feel for the people in KY.
Posted by: BillB on Aug 2, 2008 at 06:17 AM
To Rockie 7/31/08 at 9:40 am:Ky owns to the low water line on the Ohio side of the river of the early 1900s hundreds before the dams were put in.
Posted by: rockie on Jul 31, 2008 at 09:40 AM
isnt there a ky and ohio line some where to divide the states?put half on ohio side and half on ky side.to all the bad mouthers i rather be a hillbilly than a buckeye at least i wont get cracked.or should i say quacks?
Posted by: BillB on Jul 31, 2008 at 08:53 AM
to Solomon July 29 at 11;02 pm:I think you are uneducated on the law. I will ask you again can I come to Ohio dig up your Indian mounds and bring the remains to Kentucky? No way.
Posted by: "Solomon" on Jul 29, 2008 at 11:02 PM
BillB: And it's just like a Kentuckian to expect others to hand something to them after someone else has done all of the work. Lazy and uneducated won't always work in life.
Posted by: Rob on Jul 29, 2008 at 08:26 PM
LOL maybe the suspect should force Kentucky to extradite him. Spend even more money...
Posted by: BillB on Jul 29, 2008 at 06:47 AM
To Solmon On July 27 At 12:59 pm:If the rock was in Ohio it would belong to Ohio. It was in Kentucky. You are right some of you never will get it. You seem to think it is ok to take something that doesn't belong to you.
Posted by: "Solomon" on Jul 27, 2008 at 12:59 PM
To BillB If the Indian mounds are in the middle of the River and Kentucky wants to act like a bunch of pre-schoolers about it, then we'll cut it in half too. But obviously Kentucky didn't care about the rock or else they would have gotten it out of the river in the first place instead of letting it sit in the middle of the river eroding. Some people just don't get it, and never will.
Posted by: david on Jul 27, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Some say its gods rock, some say its ohios rock, some say its that state down souths rock. The fact that we are even considering putting a man who has no criminal background, a family and friends, and is someone who had only good intentions, in prison sickens me. Its not about the rock or "being sick of hearing about the rock" anymore. Its about taking a mans freedom and his family from him over something that could use a little common sense to solve itself. Kentucky, you disgust me.
Posted by: who cares on Jul 26, 2008 at 07:05 PM
If Kentucky wanted it so bad why didn't they go get it, because it was just a rock thats why it would have cost the taxpayers alot less money if they would have, but they would rather waste tons of money in court. I feel sorry for the people of kentucky to have a Goverment like that. If Kentucky owns most of the river then call it the Kentucky river not the Ohio that would solve the problem...
Posted by: Crime? on Jul 26, 2008 at 07:46 AM
We have these same judges that let drunk drivers off and not send them to jail after they get caught for the 12TH time, yet here is a guy who tried to do something to protect this rock and because 2 states can't decide who owns this thing, he will go to jail for 5 years? Our system is so whacked! Find a way to get rid of these idiots that are wasting money just so they can make a point... of arrogance! That shows our kids we care more about protecting the rights of a rock than human life! Oh, yeah, and just touch an eagle's egg and you get 20 years. However, let's kill our babies with abortion. There is no longer any regard of human life. The value system is completely messed up.
Posted by: BILL on Jul 26, 2008 at 07:45 AM
WE HEAR IT EVERYDAY, KY NEEDS TO SAVE MONEY AND CUT BACK ON THIS AND THAT. THIS IS A "PRIME " EXAMPLE OF A WASTE OF TAX PAYERS MONEY TO GO AND WASTE ALL THIS TIME AND EFFORT OVER A ROCK. I HEAR EVERYTHING PERATINING TO THE ROCK THAT "IT IS BELIEVED TO BE".... WHAT I MEAN IS THAT THEY ARE SAYING THE ROCK WAS WROTE ON IN THE 1800'S WITH A METAL TOOL OF SOME SORT BY THE INDIANS. WELL WAS IT OR NOT? IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HISTORICAL AND HAVE A ISSUE OF THE PAST SOMEBODY WOULD KNOW THIS FOR SURE. HOW CAN YOU GO AND CHARGE A MAN WITH A CRIME IF THERE ARE KNOW 100% EVIDENCE TO WHAT HE IS BEING CHARGED WITH IS EVEN TRUE. THAT IS A JOKE. ITS OBVIOUS ITS A POLITICAL STATEMENT TO FLEX THE MUSCLES ACROSS THE RIVER TO THE OHIO SIDE. THATS WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO. GOV.BESHEARS NEEDS TO STEP IN AND PUT A STOP TO THIS WHOLE DEAL AND TELL THE PROSECUTOR TO MOVE ON TO THINGS WORTHY OF PROSECUTING. COME ON WHAT A JOKE, THIS MONEY BEING SPENT ON THIS COULD BE GOING TOWARDS KIDS EDUCATION NOT A ROCK...WHAT NEXT
Posted by: Why ? on Jul 26, 2008 at 04:14 AM
To Mark,the rock was fine where it was at so Ky didn't have a reason to bother it. To Jon,most of the Ohio river lies in Kentucky . Stupid is,as stupid does.So Mr.Shafer was the one who started all this.Whats that make him ??
Posted by: BillB on Jul 25, 2008 at 04:08 PM
To Solomon on July 5 at 11:24 pm: It don't belong to Ohio.You have many Indian mounds in Ohio if some of the Indians came from Ky so should we cut them in half?
Posted by: jim on Jul 25, 2008 at 12:08 PM
The Greenup Co. prosecutor needs to take this rock and shove it where the sun don"t shine. With all the problems we have today this idiot is wasting taxpayer's money on a stupid rock
Posted by: Kevin on Jul 25, 2008 at 10:07 AM
This just proves that Kentucky is a Commonwealth of juveniles. Would Ohio please return the rock to Kentucky and then return Kentucky back to the stone age, where they clearly belong.
Posted by: BIRDEYE on Jul 25, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I WANT MY ROCK BACK NOW ITS THREE TIMES I HAVE ASK FOR IT. HAPPY DAY
Posted by: earl on Jul 25, 2008 at 10:02 AM
does any one realize this is a rock!! lets not send the drug heads, rapist, killers, and democrats to jail. but we will send a want a be indiana jones to jail for 5 years for playing with a rock. this makes me want to move back to alaska. this is like living in a big daycare. both states need a nap and a time out.
Posted by: Shep on Jul 25, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Green, Gary, it sure is refreshing to finds folks who truly "get it!" Fact is, there are only two facts one needs to know about this case: 1. Rock was a protected antiquity, having been registered as such in 1986; and 2. Removing a protected antiquity w/o a proper permit is a felony. What's complicated or hard to understand about that?
Posted by: karla on Jul 25, 2008 at 09:09 AM
i said it once and i'll say it again, "it's just an effin rock!!!!!"
Posted by: Hank on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:37 AM
This is a ridiculous use of KY taxpayer dollars and government resources.Shaffer should be congratulated for performing a public service.Shame on the prosecutor who is pursuing a case against him.
Posted by: cob on Jul 25, 2008 at 04:36 AM
I wanna rock! ROCK!
Posted by: KY on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:24 PM
ALL I CAN SAY STUPID WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: "Solomon" on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Cut the rock down the middle. Ohio keeps half, Kentucky keeps half. Problem solved.
Posted by: green on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:09 PM
KY is doing exactly what they have a right to do. You CANNOT take objects deemed to have historical significance from their home location and claim them as yours to do with as you like. This is ILLEGAL. It is the same everywhere in the world. It is a rock. So? The Rosetta Stone is a rock. Different class, yes, but the same principal. Very often in archeology objects that generally would be worthless (bones, musket balls, old letters etc) are important because of their historical significance. And many of you have probably paid money to see them in a museum. I believe he wanted to protect and preserve it, but there are proper procedures you have to go through which he ignored. I'll admit the rock isn't the coolest thing I've ever seen, but a law was broken. You can't pick and choose which laws you want to uphold and when. And that is the main point of this issue: something was stolen. Now then children, what do we usually do when something is stolen?
Posted by: lillie6 on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:08 PM
I havae heard so much about this darn rock I 'am sick of it. throw the thing back in the river and go home. I am sure ky has more problems to spend their time and money on as I know for a fact that Ohio does. I have a pot hole in the alley behind my house that is big enough ato hid several rocks in. filling that hole is a lot more important to me. portsmouth take the thing back and take care of the people and problems in Ohio. these people with a title in front of their names dones care about the real things in life.
Posted by: Gary on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:04 PM
The situation is.. KY has had so many other artifacts stolen. This case is unique. If KY wins, it can strengthen their laws. If KY looses, then it will weaken their laws as the next would-be Indiana Jones can site this case (case-law) and possibly wiggle their way out of their future situation. Shaffer tried to get federal protection for this rock years ago but did not follow through. He also tried to make a Discovery Channel documentary out of finding this rock. But then years later decided to just go get it anyway. So that means he knew this rock was an artifact. He knew it had a much deeper importance as an early 1800's river boat navigational marker... and possibly an original indian petroglyph carved on it... not those silly name carved on it. Most of those names came generations after the Smitsonian Institute cataloged it in 1847. So the irony is that Shaffer will end up protecting and strengthening KYs antiquities laws if found guilty.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:45 PM
I can't possibly imagine going to jail over a rock, but does this guy have a chance at a fair trail in KY.
Posted by: Scioto Resident on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:37 PM
You wondeer why businesses don't want to locate in this area. Let's give them one more reason not to locate here. Spend thousands of dollars keep two state governments tied up on a rock. How bout the Greenup County Prosecutor working on Drug Dealers, abused kids, unsolved murders and other crimes against society. How bout the state legislatures take the money they have to waste over a rock and fix potholes on all the roads. I look around and think why would anyone want to bring their people into this area and put up with all this. Come on people it is a rock let's get back to living and get over the rock.
Posted by: Pam on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:34 PM
With all the IMPORTANT news going on, why are we aorring about a rock? The rock belongs to God, not ANY man or state, it was put here at Gods planning for His purpose and it sure isn't to cause confusion or fighting. People are starving, need health care, jobs are hard to come by, yet all that is on some peoples minds and tying up courts is a rock. Think about it.
Posted by: Dave on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:24 PM
The Kentucky State Boundary goes to the Low Water Mark on the Ohio side of the Ohio River prior to the construction of the locks and dams. If the rock sat above the pre construction low water mark, it belongs to Ohio. If it sat below the pre construction low water mark, it belongs to Kentucky. I don't believe that this guy should go to jail for moveing the rock. But if it does belong to Kentucky, then he should put it back, or give it to someone in Kentucky that cares for this rock. Maybe they will preserve it.
Posted by: Kyle on Jul 24, 2008 at 02:35 PM
How bout they split it in half? If they dont do something fast civil war could break out between KY and OH. You'd have KY men swimming across the river trying to get over the flood wall as they are meet by sniper fire and men placed on the wall with guns. They will protect that rock!!!!! Seems like a good idea for a movie.
Posted by: Greenup Resident on Jul 24, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Its a rock who cares!!! I think we have way more things to worry about than who owns a big rock dont you think??? I can donate another rock maybe even bigger if its that big of deal??
Posted by: Jon on Jul 24, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Come on its a rock. How childish can you be is you want to charge someone for moving a rock. Kentucky needs to remember it was in the OHIO river
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 24, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Why did somebody have to put this in the legal system? These things should be negotiated behind closed doors & not wasting taxpayer money. Come on, lawmakers. Quit acting like children. It's a flippin' rock.
Posted by: hardened criminal on Jul 24, 2008 at 01:32 PM
I wonder what Mr.Schaffer is going to tell all the other federal inmates when asked "what you in for".
Posted by: shelly on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:54 AM
whats the big deal? The rock was hidden and out of view. Being a historical item I think it should have been pulled out and saved. One group went to the expense of pulling it out and another is now standing there expecting to take it away...why not share...set a good example for the children in our communiyt...show a little team work...it's a rock!
Posted by: it is me on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Did the rock have a place marker for it wherever it was? or Did it have a little story written about it wherever it was? I have never heard anything about this rock. I think this sordda silly.
Posted by: DJC on Jul 24, 2008 at 10:52 AM
If the truth be known, Kentucky could care less about that rock. If they did they would have done something themselves to protect it. The thing hasn't been seen since the 1920's and it would been just a matter of time that the river would have eroded all the markings off of it. This great state of Kentucky that I live in didn't want to spend the time or "MONEY" to care for it, but once someone else did they're whining about it. I can't believe someone could get one to five years in prison for trying to preserve a piece of history, that's right down pitiful!
Posted by: KY Resident on Jul 24, 2008 at 10:23 AM
OMG!! I am so sick of hearing about this stupid rock! Just put it back where it was and that will solve everything!
Posted by: David on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I sure hope the fine people of Greenup County realize what a buffoon their county prosecutor is! DON'T SPEND ANY MONEY IN GREENUP COUNTY.
Posted by: Mark on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:39 AM
If Kentucky officials were so concerned about this previously hidden historical object why did they not rescue it earlier? More outrageous government action!
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