WPBF (West Palm Beach, Florida) 25 May 05 Gator Poaching Suspects Nabbed
Four men accused of killing an alligator in a Royal Palm Beach neighborhood have been charged with poaching.
The felony crime could mean they each face five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Nicole Hallman alerted authorities to the four men's behavior after watching from go them go after the 10-foot-long reptile from her Palm Beach Trace apartment.
After she picked up the phone to call authorities, she picked up her video camera and documented the confrontation.
"It was really disgusting," she said. "They were being inhumane to the alligator and they were torturing it and stabbing at it poking at it, and it was really sad to see.
"I figured I'd catch it (on video tape) and it would be good evidence for police," Hallman said.
Police arrested Steve Camillera, Robin Rosovich,Thomas Beniamino and Domingo Riviera in the case.
Two of the men told Eyewitness News 25 they thought the alligator had been shot and was dead. They also said they have filed complaints about the alligator in the past, and believed they were acting to protect children in the community.
Gator Poaching Suspects Nabbed