Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A man has pleaded guilty in federal court in New Bern to wildlife violations after authorities say they found snakes, turtles, frogs and other reptiles and amphibians in his vehicle, some of which are protected species.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Refuge Officers say they saw 60-year-old Kenneth Dobis and his son Keith from Pennsylvania, carrying pillowcases and snake sticks along a roadside near Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge last May.

Officers searched the Dobis' vehicle and found an Eastern Pigmy Rattlesnake, a protected species under North Carolina law, two copperhead snakes, one rat snake, two worm snakes, three turtles, eleven frogs, one skink, and equipment used for the collection of reptiles and amphibians.

The elder Dobis was sentenced to three years probation and fined $10,000.
www.witn.com/news/headlines/Man_Pleads_Guilty_To_Wildlife_Violations_117117103.html?ref=103

"A man has pleaded guilty in federal court..."

"...along a roadside near Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge last May."

"an Eastern Pigmy Rattlesnake, a protected species under North Carolina law"

On the face of it, doesn't make sense.

Says the guy was "near" a Federal National Wildlife Refuge. Didn't say he was in one. And it sounds like the animals were still in the state where protected. Not moved across state lines. So it might be a state crime, but...
$10,000 fine for pleading seems a bit stiff when most people would be proud to kill those venomous serpents on sight, regardless of protection or place of origin.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer