Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler facing a CRIMINAL investigation

In a rather bizarre turn of events, Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler are facing criminal charges following their recent vacation. 

The fun holiday, which was documented extensively on Vanessa's Instagram, involved a hike through the Coconino National Forest located in Arizona. 

The criminal investigation was sparked after the pair carved their names inside a love heart on a rock while hiking through the national park and Vanessa posted the seemingly innocuous snap to her social media page. 

Vanessa Hudgens defaces rock and is under investigation https://t.co/6SGROJ9jNI pic.twitter.com/BvTpyod9tA

— Lonnie Smalley (@BiggieSmalley) February 16, 2016

The seemingly harmless Valentine's vacation has prompted police to become involved under a federal law that prohibits: "damaging natural surfaces or property of the United States."

Yikes. 

The photo, which has since been deleted, appears to have been carved into a large red stone surface with some sort of sharp device. 

According to E! News, if f charged under this law, the pair could face just under €5000 in fines or up to six months in jail! 

The news comes just a week after Vanessa's standout performance in Grease Live! and the sudden passing of her father to cancer.