Feds name N.Y. woman as national parks 'painter’

This undated photo taken from an Instagram posting shows an overlook of Crater Lake in Oregon. The National Park Service is investigating paintings of faces found on rocks across the West in some of the country’s most recognizable wilderness areas. (AP Photo/Instagram) less This undated photo taken from an Instagram posting shows an overlook of Crater Lake in Oregon. The National Park Service is investigating paintings of faces found on rocks across the West in some of the ... more Photo: Associated Press Photo: Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Feds name N.Y. woman as national parks 'painter’ 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A week after a woman was slammed on social media for painting rocks in Yosemite and other national parks and then posting photos of her actions on Instagram, federal officials confirmed Wednesday that the woman — Casey Nocket of Highland, N.Y. — is suspected of committing vandalism at eight sites across five states.

The officials also said they were consulting with federal prosecutors about pressing charges against Nocket, 21. However, the National Park Service declined to comment on whether it has been in touch with Nocket, citing a policy of not releasing details of an ongoing investigation.

Nocket’s alleged paintings came to light last week after bloggers discovered her Instagram posts. Her account, created under the name @Creepytings, has since been taken down, but her photos were copied and circulated across the Web.

Social media reacted with widespread disdain, especially to comments Nocket appeared to make about her rock paintings being “art” and not graffiti. Someone launched a petition to the White House to press charges.

Her alleged paintings, mostly cartoon-like figures signed with her Instagram handle, have been found near Yosemite’s Vernal Falls as well as Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Rocky Mountain in Colorado, Colorado National Monument, Crater Lake in Oregon and Zion and Canyonlands in Utah, according to the park service.

The paintings in Yosemite and Rocky Mountain have since been removed, park officials said. The park service has not given a timetable on when it will complete its investigation and has asked the public to exercise patience.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander