News From the Crime Blotter
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L A S V E G A S
A 31-year-old Las Vegas man found at theairport with lizards in his underwear was fined $500 and sentencedto three years probation for smuggling.
Don D. Astorga, an auto detailer and reptile collector, offeredno explanation before or after his sentencing on Friday about why he was traveling with nine dead and three live lizards in his pants. Two of the lizards were monitors —a federally protected species.
Astorga was arrested June 9, 1999, at McCarran International Airport by a Las Vegaspolice detective who later testified he became suspicious aboutstrange bulges in Astorga’s crotch.
A voluntary search turned up 12 young lizards and an egg wrappedin tube socks. The longest of the animals was about 12 inches long,police said. The three that survived the airplane trip later died.
Astorga provided various accounts of where he got the animals,saying first that he obtained them in the Philippines and laterthat he bought them at a pet store in Los Angeles, police said.
Las Vegas, Reptile Capital
L A S V E G A S
Sending stuff via e-mail and snail mail isfine. Using snake mail, on the other hand, isn’t.
Edward Tierney, 73, was found guilty Tuesday of two misdemeanorsfor mailing a venomous rattlesnake to an undercover law enforcementofficer in Pennsylvania.
Tierney was accused of violating Nevada law by transporting andselling a rattlesnake without the permission of the NevadaDepartment of Wildlife.
Robert Croll, an officer with the Pennsylvania Fish and BoatCommission who was posing as a customer, paid $204 for tworattlesnakes after responding to an ad Tierney placed on theInternet last year.
Tierney mailed the first snake to Croll in a small cardboard boxon Aug. 5, 1999, evidence showed. Two more followed.
Tierney will be sentenced March 6. Public defender ReneValladares said his client plans to appeal.
Adding Insult to Robbery
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