A 20-year-old man has told authorities that he drove onto and damaged the Iowa baseball field made famous by the 1989 “Field of Dreams” movie.
Court records say Austin Pape, of Dyersville, is charged with felony criminal mischief in Dubuque County. His attorney, Todd Klapatauskas (klap-uh-TOW’-skuhs), said Thursday that Pape will plead not guilty but will work with prosecutors on resolution. He says Pape hasn’t expressed any particular grudge toward the field. It sits 2 miles (3 kilometres) outside Dyersville — 142 miles (228 kilometres) northeast of Des Moines.
The records say the deep gashes in the field and sprinkler damage that occurred Jan. 22 are expected to cost nearly $14,300 to repair.
Thousands visit the eastern Iowa field, running around the bases and walking to the surrounding cornfields.