Man accused of raiding tribal graves gets jail time

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A Klamath Falls man who authorities say dug up artifacts from Native American burial sites and sold them has been sentenced to 20 days in jail.

The Oregonian reports that 47-year-old Douglas Porter Cotellese was also sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay more than $1,000 in fines. He pleaded guilty last month to Abuse of Indian Graves in violation of state law.

Cotellese was arrested after authorities say he was caught selling the sacred artifacts to undercover law enforcement agents for up to $160. Investigators say he had dug up beads and other artifacts from known Klamath tribal burial sites along the Link River.

Director for the Culture and Heritage Department of Klamath Tribes, Perry Chocktoot, says the artifacts could be thousands of years old.

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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com