Raccoons, Skunks For Sale End With Arrests

INDIANA --  A Moores Hill couple is facing charges for illegally selling raccoons, skunks and fish out of their home.

This past June, Indiana Conservation Officers learned of the wild animal sales by Rachael Blankenship, 18, and Jason Miller, 27.

Serving a search warrant at the couple’s home at a mobile home park along State Road 350 in Moores Hill on July 1, conservation officers found four wild skunks and two wild raccoons. They also observed a large aquarium containing several black bass that had been caught out of Hogan Creek, however, the fish were smaller than the 12-inch requirement to keep.

“Blankenship also admitted that she sold three of the skunks for $10 each to (a conservation officer by email),” investigators stated in a court affidavit.

Blankenship had also showed the conservation officers the baby bottle she used to feed the juvenile wild animals. She allegedly showed the officers a recipe that she had found on the internet for bottle feeding the animals.

The animals were seized and turned over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Officers say they also found various pills and paraphernalia including a glass marijuana pipe during the home search. Two small children were in the home at the time, according to the affidavit.

Miller is charged with Possession of Skunk (Class C misdemeanor), Possession of Raccoon (Class C misdemeanor), Possession of Black Bass (Class C misdemeanor), Illegal Sale of Wildlife (Class C misdemeanor), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Level 6 felony), Possession of a Legend Drug (Level 6 felony), Possession of Paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor), and Taking Juvenile to Location Used for Drug Sale, Manufacture, or Possession (Class A misdemeanor).

Blankenship faces charges including Possession of Skunk (Class C misdemeanor), Possession of Raccoon (Class C misdemeanor), Illegal Sale of Wildlife (Class C misdemeanor), Possession of Paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor), and Taking Juvenile to Location Used for Drug Sale, Manufacture, or Possession (Class A misdemeanor).

They were each arrested Monday and remain held in the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center.

(Eagle Country Online - August 27, 2014)