Pre-trial Date Set

The pre-trial date has now been set for March 10, 2010 for both Charles J. Darnell and Ashley Hare.

You Have To Fight For Your Right.....

Instead of partying like the Beastie Boys song, we have to fight for our right to own boas! In case you are not aware, the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed S373 AKA the Python Ban. This bill will add 4 species of Python, 4 species of Anaconda, and ALL TYPES of Boa Constrictors to the Lacey Act!

If this passes the Senate, it would make it a Federal offense to buy, sell, or transport a boa or python across state lines. If this passes, you would not be able to purchase animals from someone in another state. This would effectively cease all boa sales, and hurt breeders both small and large. Also, as an owner of a BANNED Boa Constrictor or Python, you would not be able to go to a Vet in another state without committing a Federal offense. If you had to move to another state, yes you guessed it, your pets would not be able to go with you! So what would be the fine if you committed this Federal offense? A maximum fine of $250,000 for individuals, $500,000 for organizations.

The very sloppy USGS report (300 pages, 15MB download) that this bill was based on is flawed and has been rejected by many of USGS's peers (as reported on National Geographic's website), as well as the United States Chamber of Commerce. Can you imagine what this bill, if passed, would do to our already failing economy? Cage builders, rat suppliers, substrate providers, snake breeders, pet shop owners, and especially pet owners are part of an estimated $3 to $4 Billion dollar reptile industry (yes that is with a "B"!!). Thousands more people would now be unemployed - if nobody can buy boas or pythons, who would need to buy equipment or supplies?? Why would people breed boas if you weren't allowed to sell them to people around the country or the world for that matter? Of course, the objections are falling on deaf ears in the Senate.

So, what can you do? You (and everyone you know - family, friends, everyone) need to contact the Legislators for your State ASAP. A face-to-face meeting would be the best thing to do, a phone call would definitely help (try to talk to the Senator directly, not a liaison) and/or a letter would be fine. An email would be OK, but probably will be deleted or not taken as seriously. For letter writing steps and the contact information for your State Senator, visit http://www.kill-s373.com/. Hurry as the deadline to get your letters into USARK is Wednesday, January 20. All letters will be compiled and delivered to each State's Senator by USARK in person to show our solidarity against this terrible piece of legislation. Oh, and if are not yet a member of USARK, join today!

There are an estimated 4 million reptile owners out there. Even if you don't currently own a boa or python, contact your State Senator anyways. It's only a matter of time before they target ALL reptiles!

For more information, I highly recommend reading the excellent publications on this subject that have been submitted by Dave and Tracy Barker.

Pre-trial Hearings Moved To January 13, 2010

Here is a link to information on Charles J. Darnell's pending trial in Sumter County, Florida. Type in Darnell for the last name, and Charles J for the first name. Go to the same link to bring up the information on Jaren Ashley Hare's pending trial as well.

Couple plead Not Guilty in death of toddler

They both entered a plea of not guilty and are scheduled for pre-trial hearings on November 12th. Here is a link to the news story.

Couple charged with death of little girl

Charles J. Darnell and Jaren Ashley Hare (the mother of the little girl, Shaiunna) were arrested on August 24th. They were both charged with murder in the third degree, manslaughter, and child abuse. The State Attorney’s office has determined that Shaiunna’s death did not have to happen, and had the Burmese python been maintained according to Florida law, Shaiunna would be alive today. Information released by the State Attorney shows that friends and family members of Shaiunna’s mother, Jaren Hare and her boyfriend, Charles Darnell, had repeatedly offered to provide a locked cage for the snake, the couple repeatedly refused offers for help. A statement released by Assistant State Attorney Peter Magrino reads, “It's just a tragic set of circumstances that due to the reckless conduct on behalf of adults, a small child lost her life.” Information released shows previous reporting that Charles Darnell owned the snake was incorrect. The snake belonged to Jaren Hare, Shaiunna’s mother, making it clear why she was also charged in the death of Shaiunna.

Information released from the Department of Children and Families showed that prior to Shaiunna’s death in July, DCF had answered complaints that Hare and Darnell were using and selling drugs in the home, and were abusing the children. The allegations were that the couple was using and selling ecstasy, marijuana, meth amphetamine, and cocaine.

Darnell's baby that Hare was carrying (she had a girl), is in Foster care while Hare is being incarcerated.

Charles Darnell is being held without bail; Jaren Hare is held on $35,000 bond.

I'm glad to see that hopefully there will be some justice done for their neglect, but we'll see what happens when/if it goes to trial.

Here are some links to news stories about this arrest and the DCF investigation:
http://www.ocala.com/...

http://www.wesh.com/news/20585814/detail.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-7403-Tampa-Crime-Examiner~y2009m8d25-Florida-couple-charged-with-murder-and-child-abuse-after-Burmese-python-strangles-and-kills-toddler

Surprise, Surprise.....

I guess we all grieve a terrible loss of life in different ways.....
http://www.wesh.com/news/20322933/detail.html.

The Burmese Python tragedy in Florida

Well, to continue from my previous post, I have a few problems with the "story" of how a 2-year old girl was killed by a Burmese Python.

If you listen to the 9-1-1 call that was placed by Charles J. Darnell (the owner of the Burmese Python), he says that "Our "STUPID" snake got out in the middle of the night and strangled the baby" (I would beg to differ as to which one is smarter, Mr. Darnell or the snake...but I digress). He continues to say that "We have a Burmese python, she's about 12 feet long, got out of the cage last night and strangled the baby to death". [The snake was later measured and determined to only be 8 1/2 feet]. Continuing, he says "I'm going to kill the bitch". It truly is a gut wrenching call on many levels.

So, here are my problems with the 9-1-1 call. Why did he instantly think the child is dead? If it was my child, I would be performing CPR until the paramedics arrived and if I didn't know CPR I would attempt SOMETHING or ask what to do! According to this report the 9-1-1 call came in a little before 10:00am on Wednesday, July 1st, after Mr. Darnell discovered the little girl dead. I don't think I can remember EVER sleeping in until 10:00am when my daughter was 2 years old. Also, according to this report there were two older children in the house as well. WOW, the mother, Mr. Darnell, and 3 kids all asleep until 10:00 in the morning in the middle of the week?!? A 2-year old and 2 other kids NOT waking up before 10:00am wanting to be fed, have a diaper changed, wanting to play, etc.?? That sure is a quiet house!

According to this report, the 8 1/2 foot Burmese Python weighed 15 to 20 pounds, yet Mr. Darnell was not able to remove the snake from around the girl and had to go and get a 6-inch knife AND a meat cleaver!?!? As you can tell from the pictures in my previous blog post, Mr. Darnell is a large man, and the python was quite small. I would think it would be relatively easy for Mr. Darnell to uncoil the snake from the little girl, especially if he had started at the tail and went "backwards". I just don't think that the Burmese python was so strong that Mr. Darnell couldn't remove it without going to the extreme measure of "stabbing" the snake. Now, I don't know about you, but I am not about to stab a knife or a MEAT CLEAVER anywhere near my daughter that's for sure, let alone stab at a snake that is so small that I might miss and hit the girl instead! You can tell from the picture of the python in my previous post that it only has two, maybe three cuts. So, are we supposed to believe that Mr. Darnell stabbed the python once or twice with the knife (or meat cleaver), the snake wouldn't let go, so he had to drop that tool and use another?? Then he had to stab it with a meat cleaver (or knife) all the while NOT STABBING or hitting the little girl??? You can see in the picture below that the cuts appear on the python near its head, where the snake is maybe 2 or 3 inches in diameter. Those are some pretty darn good stabs to be able to hit a snake but yet not injure (or be concerned you will injure) the little girl at the same time....

Then there is the problem of a warrant needing to be issued. According to this report, the authorities had to wait for a warrant to be issued before entering the home! If it was me, and my daughter was just killed by my pet, I would say come on in and remove the snake at once! At the very least, put the snake in a bag and hand it over to the authorities. Instead, they had to wait until 4:45pm to go in and remove the python. Maybe Mr. Darnell didn't want the authorities to discover a small amount of marijuana that they found. Since Mr. Darnell was arrested in May on numerous drug charges I guess police officers aren't his best friends either, even in a time of tragedy.

The same report says that the Department of Children and Families had investigated several complaints that involved the family over the past year. I'm not saying foul play was involved in this tragedy, I just hope that this case of a death of an innocent young life is fully investigated. I would hate to think that people would just jump to conclusions just because there is a snake in the house and things might "appear" to be an accident. It makes such a good story that a "huge terrifying snake" killed a little girl...I just find all the things that I have listed above about this story as a little "fishy"....

I hate the fact that Mr. Darnell's carelessness and stupidity is casting a bad light on the rest of the responsible boid owners that take the time and money to properly care for their animals. So far, Mr. Darnell faces a maximum fine of $500 and/or 60 days in jail for not having a permit for his Burmese python. Additionally, Mr. Darnell and/or the mother could face criminal charges for child neglect or endangerment. I really hope they throw the book at Mr. Darnell for his stupidity, and the mom should be charged for allowing this animal to be unsecured around her child (of course, she might have not known any better...). The preliminary results of the autopsy report, pending toxicology tests, have come back saying that the little girl died of asphyxia.

This tragedy is so sad on many different levels, and may that little girl rest in peace.