OXFORD, FL -- The man whose pet snake killed his girlfriend's 2-year-old

daughter last month has been arrested on drug-related charges.



Deputies arrested 32-year-old Charles Darnell Friday afternoon following a

one week investigation. According to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office,

undercover detectives bought cocaine from Darnell in front of his home on

two separate occasions.



It's the same home where Darnell's 8 1/2 foot python strangled girlfriend's

2-year-old daughter, Shaiunna Hare, to death in July.



Darnell was pulled over just after 5 pm at the Bob's Jiffy Mart on Highway

44, where Darnell was taken into custody.



He is charged with two counts of sale of cocaine, two counts of possession

of cocaine with intent to sell, two counts of unlawful use of a two-way

communication device and two counts of keep shop for dangerous drugs.



He is in the Sumter County Jail on a $110,000 bond.



Prosecutors haven't decided whether Darnell or the girl's mother, Jaren

Hare, should be charged with wrongdoing Shaiunnna's death.



At the time Darell told deputies he put the snake in an unlocked cage the

night before, then found the snake in the bed on top of the girl when he

woke up, according to authorities.

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