Four men camping in Western Maryland over the summer pleaded guilty to possessing or destroying a timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) in the state’s Green Ridge State Forest in Allegany County. The judge fined each man $500, with $300 suspended for destroying the rattlesnake. Additional fines were levied for other charges, and their guilty pleas will be expunged if they successfully complete court-ordered probation.
The individuals involved are Austin William Golas, 18, Paul Harold Lafon IV, 19, Travis Christopher Luedtke, 18, and Erik Lee Reffitt, 19. They were charged with killing and grilling the timber rattlesnake, a protected species, after Maryland Natural Resources police officers encountered them and two juveniles fishing near a boat ramp. During a check of their fishing licenses and campground, officers found several chopped-down trees, the dead venomous snake apparently killed with a BB gun, marijuana, and suspected LSD. Officers issued 32 citations, including destroying the timber rattlesnake, destroying trees in a state forest, target shooting at a campsite, fishing without a license, and possession of marijuana. The timber rattlesnake is listed as an endangered species in Maryland. It is one of the larger rattlesnakes, capable of growing over five feet long, with the largest recorded specimen exceeding six feet. Large individuals can weigh nearly 10 lbs, while typical adults measure around 40 inches.
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