MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The owner of the 15-foot python that escaped into the wilds of Sabraton on May 30 has been arrested and charged by the Morgantown Police Department.
The owner of the 15-foot python that escaped into the wilds of Sabraton on May 30 has been arrested and charged by the Morgantown Police Department.
Shane Stevens, 19, of Morgantown, is charged with allowing an animal to run at large, according to the MPD. Stevens was arrested and booked on Wednesday; he is free on $100 bond.
Chief Ed Preston said the charge is the same as if a dog was running loose. If convicted, Stevens faces up to a $500 fine.
The reason the arrest took place almost a month after the snake’s great escape is because the investigator was unavailable for a week and the first priority was trying to find the snake, Preston said.
While transporting the snake it escaped its cage and was loose inside the vehicle, the police said. Stevens exited the vehicle and the snake escaped into the woods. It was last seen on a hillside near Listravia Avenue, according to police.
Officers from the MPD, volunteers, including the owner and staff of Exotic Jungle Pet Superstore, searched the area for multiple days but were unable to find the snake. The Monongalia County Emergency Management Office used a drone to assist in the search.
The search has been called off.
The MPD still believes the snake is at large, and anyone who sees it should call 911.
