Snake Owner Accepts Plea For Venomous Snake’s Escape From His Raleigh Home
The Latest (8/9/21):
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A snake collector whose escaped zebra cobra caused a frenzy for days this summer in a North Carolina neighborhood has pleaded guilty to a charge, agreeing in turn to pay restitution and give up his snakes.
Christopher Gifford, 21, had been charged last month with 40 misdemeanors stemming from the venomous snake’s escape. Authorities ultimately captured it in a Raleigh neighborhood in late June. The snake actually had escaped last November, according to Gifford’s lawyer, but he hadn’t told anyone, media outlets reported.
Under Friday’s agreement in Wake County court, Gifford pleaded guilty to failing to report the missing snake. In exchange, the other 39 counts were dropped. The charge he pleaded guilty to also will be dismissed if Gifford successfully completes his probation.
“It was a huge mistake,” Gifford said after the court hearing. “Whatever I can do to fix it, I’ve been trying to do.”
The deal requires no time behind bars. He must pay $13,162 in part for the emergency and police response to locating the loose snake. And the dozens of snakes that he must relinquish will be used for anti-venom and cancer research, said Anna Smith Felts, Gifford’s attorney.
“This gentleman has never been in trouble before and clearly there was a lack of judgment on this day back in November,” Felts said. “But he has done absolutely everything he can to rectify the situation.”
Venomous snakes are legal to own in North Carolina, but they must be kept in escape-proof, bite-proof enclosures and owners must notify law enforcement if one escapes.
The cobra was reported outside a home on June 28 and captured two days later. During the search, residents were told to stay away from the snake if they saw it and call 911.
The Latest (7/8/21):
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man whose venomous snake escaped from his home and terrorized a neighborhood for several days is facing multiple misdemeanor charges, authorities said.
Christopher Gifford, 21, is facing 40 charges in connection to his escaped zebra cobra and other venomous snakes kept in the basement of his parents’ home, news outlets reported.
Gifford has numerous photos and videos on his Instagram account handling snakes.
His cobra was reported outside a home about a half-mile from his on June 28, and captured by Raleigh animal control officers the following Wednesday. Before it was captured, officials warned anyone who saw the snake to stay away and call 911, saying it could spit and bite if cornered.
One of the misdemeanor charges says Gifford did not notify law enforcement of the snake’s escape, as required by state law. Another 36 misdemeanor counts accuse him of keeping venomous snakes in improper enclosures, and three misdemeanor charges involve snakes in containers that were mislabeled.
Venomous snakes are legal to own in North Carolina, but they must be kept in escape-proof, bite-proof enclosures and owners must notify law enforcement if one escapes.
So far, police have not commented on when the snake escaped.
Gifford referred questions to his attorney Anna Felts, who said her client is stressed. He has expressed remorse and understands the danger a zebra cobra on the loose posed to neighbors, she said.
Felts confirmed that 75 other snakes, some of them venomous, were seized from the Gifford’s home last week. She could not say whether he would try to get the snakes back.
Update (6/30/21):
Animal control captured the venomous cobra on Wednesday night after it was reported to be on the loose in a Raleigh neighborhood.
Update (6/30/21):
A venomous cobra that was reported to be on the loose in a Raleigh neighborhood has been spotted on a porch in the area officials have been searching Wednesday, according to outlets.
News outlets say the cobra was seen on the porch of the same house it was first spotted earlier this week.
Animal Control officers as well as local Raleigh police have gathered in the area to secure the safety of the community and capture the snake. The officers are said to have been holding snake-capture gear and wearing face shields.
The zebra cobra can spit multiple feet which can make normal activity in the area a little more dangerous.
Original Story (6/29/21):
RALEIGH, N.C. — Officials say a venomous cobra is on the loose in a neighborhood in Raleigh. The snake was reportedly spotted on the porch of a home on Sandringham Drive in the northwest part of the city, according to police.
Animal Control responded to the home but the snake was no where to be found.
Police say the zebra cobra is owned by a resident of the Brittany Woods neighborhood. There is no word on how the snake got loose.
Zebra cobras are extremely dangerous. The venom causes tissue damage and can be fatal. The snakes are nocturnal and their markings have vertical stripes.
HEAR THE 911 CALL:
