Former Glacier Park worker gets prison time for sexual assault

A Chicago man who sexually assaulted an incapacitated coworker at Glacier National Park last summer has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Eduardo Luis Diaz, 27, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in March. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped a felony charge of aggravated sexual abuse.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy on Friday handed down the prison sentence, which will be followed by five years of federal supervision.

Diaz and the victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, were both seasonal employees working for a private company with a contract to operate in Glacier and living in employee dorms. Prosecutors said Diaz sexually assaulted the woman after she became intoxicated and passed out during a party in July 2020, and later admitted that during an interview with a park ranger.

"Seasonal workers for businesses operating in and around our national parks should be able to work in and enjoy our national parks without the threat of sexual assault and harassment," acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said in a statement. "I hope this prosecution will assure workers and the public that we will hold predators accountable for their conduct."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the National Park Service.

"We thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for their prosecution of this case and commend the survivor for her courage in stepping forward," Pete Webster, the acting superintendent of Glacier National Park, said in a statement. "The law enforcement community knows that sexual assault is an underreported crime, and so we encourage park visitors and employees to report these crimes so that perpetrators can be caught and brought to justice."