RICHMOND REGISTER (Kentucky) 29 July 08 Berea men plead not guilty to snake charges (Heather Harris)

Three Berea men pleaded not guilty Monday in Madison District Court to charges of harboring illegally held wildlife, including several poisonous snakes.

Brian Fryer, 30, of was among those charged after a two-year investigation by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources dubbed “Twice Shy.” Fryer faces 46 counts of selling, buying or possessing wildlife.

John Rowland, 46, of Berea, faces two charges of illegally buying, selling and possessing wildlife. His son, Joel Rowland, 18, also was arrested and faces the same charges. Each charge is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum of one-year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.

It was in early July when officers with the department arrested 10 people, cited an additional person and seized more than 125 venomous snakes and other reptiles. Among the wildlife seized were illegal western diamondback rattlesnakes, timber rattlesnakes, cottonmouth water moccasins, northern and southern copperheads, cobras, great basin rattlesnakes, a gaboon viper, a puff adder and an alligator.

“This was a well-conducted and well-documented investigation that has put those who would engage in the illegal buying and selling of any wildlife in Kentucky on notice that they are subject to arrest and prosecution,” said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Director of Law Enforcement Colonel Bob Milligan. “It is disturbing to me that individuals would keep such dangerous wildlife in their homes and in neighborhoods where they put their families, visitors and neighbors at such high risk.”

It is unclear at this time, exactly which reptiles Fryer or the Rowlands had in their possession.

Madison District Judge Earl Ray Neal accepted the non-guilty pleas from the men and set hearings for Fryer for Aug. 11 and hearings for both Rowlands on Aug. 18.

An additional Berea man was arrested but did not appear in court Monday. Jerrod Allen, 21, faces at least nine charges of illegally buying, selling and possessing wildlife.
Berea men plead not guilty to snake charges

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• KY Press: Berea men plead not guilty - W von Papineäu, Tue Aug 5 18:42:19 2008