Florida Man Arrested for Possession of Guns, Meth, and Baby Alligator in Naples

In Florida, you can face penalties for possession of illegal firearms, illegal drugs, and hatchling alligators. However, it is rare to be charged with all three offenses at the same time – especially in regard to the wildlife violation. One man was recently caught in Naples with all three prohibited items – and he now faces serious consequences as a result. What should you do if you find yourself in this situation? How can you fight firearm and drug possession charges in Naples?

Collier County Officers Discover Alligator, Firearms, and Drugs During Traffic Stop 

It began with a routine traffic stop in Naples. First, police discovered that the 31-year-old driver of a pickup truck did not have a valid license. Next, they checked the bed of the pickup truck and found a plastic tub. Inside was a live baby alligator. At this point, the officers grew suspicious of the man and searched his jacket. This led to the further discovery of methamphetamine. Finally, the officers carried out an in-depth search of the entire vehicle and located two concealed firearms.

As a result, this defendant was charged with two counts of carrying a concealed firearm. He also faces drug possession charges and narcotics paraphernalia charges. While people are found with drugs and guns all the time in Florida, the addition of a baby alligator made this story particularly buzzworthy. Unfortunately for the defendant, it also added serious charges to his file.

In Florida, you can carry a concealed firearm in your vehicle if it is not “readily available.” On this basis, it is fair to assume that the defendant had the firearms stored in an illegal manner – perhaps lying on the passenger seat. Interestingly, there are no charges that suggest the firearms were illegally obtained – or that the individual in question was ineligible to own them.

Penalties for Alligator Possession in Naples 

The penalties for possession of a live alligator are quite serious in Florida. Although it might be tempting to take a baby alligator or an alligator egg from the wild, you could face prison time for doing so. Under Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation laws, possessing a baby alligator is a felony of the third degree. As a result, you will face up to five years in prison for this offense if convicted.

Work With an Experienced Drug Possession Lawyer in Naples 

If you’re facing serious charges of illegal drug and firearm possession in Naples, get in touch with a defense lawyer at your earliest convenience. Possession of illicit drugs is one thing, but the addition of illegal firearms makes this situation much more serious. As we have seen, things can become even more dire when defendants possess other prohibited items – including poached wildlife. To get started with a defense strategy that meets your unique needs, contact the Fort Myers criminal defense lawyers at The Foley & Wilson Law Firm today.

Sources: 

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0379/Sections/0379.409.html

aol.com/police-arrest-florida-man-found-161609953.html