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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by LadyBloodRose on February 4, 2011
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This is what chuck had to say in reguards to everything IE his side of the story as per what he posted on his face book.
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I was enlisted to put on a “Native venomous snakes of GA” display at the 2011 Repticon Atlanta Show. This required me to transport live venomous snakes representing this group from my home Gate City, VA to Atlanta, GA.
On Saturday night after the show, I received a phone call telling me that Wade Westbrook had been bitten by a copperhead and passed away. I later found out that the funeral arrangements were for 230pm on the following Tuesday. I had a prior engagement that kept me south of Chattanooga until that Tuesday morning, so I decided to route home thru Chattanooga to attend the funeral.
I had not had an opportunity to return to VA, so the snake display from the show was still in my position. After the funeral on Tuesday, I visited with some friends and fellow snake enthusiast in East Ridge, TN. They invited me to stay the night and I did so. The following day, we wanted to have lunch together. In order to fit everyone in my car, we removed the box containing my snake display and left it at their house.
After lunch, I returned home and dropped off my friends. I left the home to go visit another friend that lived in the local area. I was to return in a couple hours and pick up my belongings, including the snake display and return home to VA. During the time I was visiting my friend, Tennessee Wildlife Officials raided the homes of my friends, impounding some snakes belonging to them and my native GA venomous display.
Wildlife officials retrieved my card from the display box and called me. I explained that the snakes are housed in VA and I have been in GA doing a lecture on native venomous. The official told me if I would come and meet with them, we could clear everything up and he would return my snakes and allow me to take them to VA.
I agreed to meet and went to the location they asked me to meet them at. I gave them my statement and all the information they asked for. They asked me to provide names of other people in TN keeping venomous snakes, but I did not know any.
Rather than returning my snakes as promised, they placed me under arrest and took me to the Hamilton County jail. It was several hours before I could meet with the magistrate. He reviewed the charges and immediately released my on my own recognizance. After I was released, it took till early morning to process my case, because TWRA had charged me with 48 separate charges arising from my 12 snakes they had impounded.
I was finally released and I returned to my home in VA with a court date for the following week. My arrested was in no way connected to the death of Wade Westbrook. I was aware that venomous snakes could not be housed in TN, however, I was not aware that they could not be transported thru the state.
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I dunno how many of you have me on your FB but theres a lot that know my feelings regarding Wade, the man was not the most responsible person in the world as per one of my videos show with him irresponsibly reaching over top of a copperhead chuck was displaying a while back at a herp meeting. Whiskey + Energy drinks which he was always drinking when ever I saw him does not make a good combination for handling snakes or any animal.
As for chucks charges, it seems like they are trying to pin it all on someone an chuck seems to be the fall back guy. Which is unfortunate with his getting caught with his animals in TN. He should have went on after the funeral rather then hung out an extra 24 hours in the state. Unless they changed it which i need to check since the vet I use is up on lookout mountain there was a limited time frame in which you could move animals threw the state. But he shoulda just went on not like he couldn't come hang out with who ever later.
I am tryim to keep up with this story much as I can, I am a bit interested to see how this is all gona play out...
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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by tj on February 4, 2011
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"Why did they arrest him? what did they catch him with? What was his connection to the guy that died? Did he sell the snake to them? Was it a sting operation?
It just seems random that he is being held responsible for this guys death".
The four counts for each snake are possession charges, native possession charges, yada yada, most likely. Usually one snake will carry many charges...ie possession, possession of native or protected, intent to sell, possession of dangerous wildlife, blah blah.
I don't see anywhere where they're trying to pin the man's death on him, nor should they, but it seems like they want blood, so they've gotta find something, and if someone is connected, they're going to try and get something on them, even if he was just transporting through TN. TN isn't the easiest state to work with when it comes to animals like that. I don't see a whole lot happening with it, unless any snakes were kept in TN. It's just gonna be a headache for Chuck for abit. I can't see anything sticking, unless they really want to consider transporting across lines possession, which is possible, but bogus at best.
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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by tj on February 4, 2011
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Apparently, TN considers "transportation" without a permit illegal. So that pretty much sums up 12 charges. Not quite sure I understand that logic. Would a permit from another state satisfy them? I wonder how many people who travel to shows actually check to see if it's legal to transport snakes through different states. Alot of learning to be had from this unfortunate incident...
When I kept, I assumed my permit would save me if I needed to transport through a different state. Perhaps that might not have been the case?
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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by LadyBloodRose on February 4, 2011
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for those wondering about the manslaughter charges..
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/feb/03/authorities-may-bring-more-charges-against-snake-d/
Its not a deffinate but they are not ruling it out yet according to wild life officials...
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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by LadyBloodRose on February 5, 2011
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For those unfamiliar with Wade...
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs789.ash1/167971_198451353498698_100000015034522_811420_427248_n.jpg
Thats a pic of him with yes, a Gaby on his head... The picture of responsibility huh?
Now if you didn't know or just glanced you might think its alive, no the gabby is dead, but that kinda pic is the type of stuff that is helping nail the coffin lid on this hobby -_-. I went ballistic when I saw this photo posted originally.
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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by questionaire on February 7, 2011
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tj,
All animals transported across state lines for show or sales are suppose to have a permit. It is illegal to transport them without a permit.
Animals are tested by a Veterinarian for transmissible diseases. After test results are obtained, if the animal is healthy, a permit is issued for a limited time for the specific show or sale. The reason for the permits is to prevent the spread of transmissible diseases.
I have never done a permit for a herp. However, owners of other animals, such as horses, frequently have problems and receives fines if they are discovered in other states without permits.
Tennessee is a big horse show state, very familiar with permits. Federal government officials frequently appear at horse shows there to issue fines. So maybe they are being overly cautious.
However, this arrest sounds like a bit of overkill to me.
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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by questionaire on February 7, 2011
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Sorry tj, I realized I didn't actually answer your question.
I think Chuck might have stayed past the time limit, for transporting through a state, by staying several nights in Tennessee. He specifies that he stayed overnight Tuesday night. He also indicates that he might have spend more nights in TN by saying, "I had a prior engagement that kept me south of Chattanooga until that Tuesday morning".
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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by Pug on February 7, 2011
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Chuck appeared in court today and bond was set at $10 thousand. http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13983973
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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by theemojohnm on February 7, 2011
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The gaboon in that photo is most certainly dead. The strange, open-mouth posture, and the way the snake is sitting does NOT look like a live Bitis. I don't think you could get a gab to sit like that, no matter how 'tame' you tell yourself it is.. (They usually don't like being elevated any. And they rest outstretched, sometimes semi-coiled, but not like that, in a 'crote-coil-position‘. They're just too heavy-bodied).
Still, he certainly wanted folks to think it was alive, which is just as bad. Just goes go show that he wasn't too bright.
Take Care,
-J. Mendrola
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RE: Any information about recent copperhead fatali
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by LadyBloodRose on February 7, 2011
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Indeed theemojohnm, the snake is dead. But for someone who isn't herp savy or is just looking for something to use as bad press that pic decidedly hits the nail on the head.
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