Florida: Arrested back in January along with his 'doobie brother' Daniel Lawlor, Ashtyn Rance has additional charges filed against him

FLORIDA -- Back in January, Ashtyn and Daniel were heading down the road in their oh-so-stylish blue Mom Jeans minivan. Ashtyn was driving but apparently hit the bong a bit too hard. A cop spotted him "driving erratically" and pulled him over.

Walking up to the van, the cop immediately smelled the pot which gave him enough probable cause to yank them out of the van. Inside the van, they found more than 100 small critters destined for Emerald Coral & Reptiles Pet Store (which is apparently under investigation for allegedly purchasing non-permitted wildlife and re-selling them with possibly falsified permits or on the black market).

It didn't appear that the animals had been abused or neglected. I'm sure these two idiots got paid per animal so it wasn't in their best interests to arrive at Emerald Coral & Reptiles with a van full of dead reptiles.

The problem is: neither Ashtyn nor Daniel had the proper permits for these animals. Where did they get them? Who knows? But the cops called Florida Fish and Wildlife who came out, photographed, inventoried all the animals, and threw some initial charges at the two potheads.

The few hermit crabs and the red snake are native to Florida so they released them to live happily ever after. However, the iguanas, lizards and geckos were not so lucky.

 

NOTHING TO SMILE ABOUT
They killed this little lizard for no reason except he wasn't
native to Florida and the 2 men did not have permits for him.

Wildlife officers KILLED ALL 76 OF THE IGUANAS, LIZARDS AND GECKOS.

Why? What did they do to deserve death?

Because they're not native to Florida, they couldn't be released. So? Assign the proper permits to the animals and send them to a qualified reptile rescue. But, see, wildlife agencies don't do that. It's easier for them to simply kill the animals.

Anyway, looks like Ashtyn Rance picked up some additional charges since the January arrest and the judge slapped a $65,000 bond on him so he might still be cooling his jets at the county jail right now.

Fort Pierce man jailed in sale of pink toe tarantulas, boas, other exotics
TC Palm - June 2, 2017

A Fort Pierce man accused of improperly selling a variety of exotic animals, including pink toe tarantulas and Brazilian rainbow boas, was arrested on more than 10 charges, according to records released this week.

Ashtyn Michael Rance, 31, of the 10300 block of Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce, was arrested Wednesday on 12 misdemeanor counts of possession of captive wildlife for commercial or sanctuary purposes without a permit and a single misdemeanor count related to having a nile monitor.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigation began after Rance in May 2016 was denied a license for the commercial sale/exhibit/display of so-called Class III wildlife, which includes skunks, parrots, snakes, geckos, finches, foxes and frogs.

By comparison, Class I wildlife includes lions, hippopotamuses, bears and elephants — animals “that pose a significant danger to people,” according to the FWC. Class II wildlife, which also can pose a danger, includes bobcats, howler monkeys, dwarf crocodiles and wolverines.

In June 2016, an investigator reported seeing Rance in Hillsborough County at a reptile exposition with Class III wildlife for commercial purposes.

A month after that, investigators got information “on Facebook that Rance continued to commercially sell captive wildlife without a license.” Rance also posted pictures of himself importing creatures from Guyana, records show.

Investigators said that Rance on a Facebook page stated he used another entity’s license, but investigators say that license is for a different address in Palm Bay and in Rance’s case is not allowed.

Other records gotten through a Facebook search warrant and PayPal subpoena show arrangements for payment from people via PayPal for animals including collared lizards, red foot tortoises and blue iguanas.

Rob Klepper, a spokesman for FWC, said whether the people who bought the creatures did anything inappropriate depends on the laws of their state. At least one person was in Colorado and one in Georgia.

“His violations were in regards to the sale of these animals, not necessarily the possession,” Klepper said.

One $2,720 direct deposit was for a variety of creatures including 10 Nile monitors. It’s illegal to possess those without a permit, Klepper said.

Nile monitors are non-native lizards that can grow to more than 5 feet and weigh nearly 15 pounds.

Rance was cited two previous times by FWC, and warned four previous times, according to Klepper.

Records provided by FWC show Rance in 2014 was convicted of possession of a venomous reptile without a license in Brevard County. That related to a dusky pygmy rattlesnake.

Rance was also convicted of cruelty to animals in 2006 in Palm Beach County.

“The FWC promotes responsible ownership of captive wildlife, and it is the goal of the FWC to develop the best regulations possible that provide for public safety, animal welfare, and the legitimate use of wildlife for educational, exhibition, or personal purposes,” Klepper said via email. “Florida’s captive wildlife regulations are among the most stringent in the nation.”

Rance was held Friday in the St. Lucie County Jail on $65,000 bail, a jail official said.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Ashtyn Michael Rance
Sex: Male
Race: White
Arrest Age: 31
Date: 05/31/2017
Time: 4:46 PM
Arresting Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife
Location: St. Lucie County, Florida
Total Bond: $65,000
Charges
#1 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#2 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#3 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#4 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#5 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#6 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#7 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#8 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#9 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#10 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#11 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#12 Exhibition And Sale Of Wildlife W/o A Permit. BOND: $5000
#13 Possession Of Prohibited Reptile. BOND: $5000

  

Earlier:

• Florida: Daniel Lawlor and Ashtyn Rance arrested after authorities found 114 lizards and hermit crabs in their van. Florida Fish & Wildlife KILLED SEVENTY-SIX OF THESE ANIMALS FOR NO GOOD REASON!

Pennsylvania: Robert Furrer who ran a local education program called Bob's Critters has been found GUILTY on 34 counts of animal cruelty

PENNSYLVANIA -- A Fairview Township man known for starting a local animal education program called Bob’s Critters has been found guilty on 34 counts of animal cruelty, according to court documents.

Robert Furrer (Bob Furrer), 66, – who brought animals to birthday parties, schools, camps and day care centers across south central Pennsylvania – was found in possession of a “very large quantity” of neglected animals at his home last year, said Melissa Smith, executive director of the York County SPCA, in an interview.

Furrer was cited for 35 counts of animal cruelty on Oct. 20 and found guilty on 34 counts by District Judge Scott Gross on Dec. 21, documents state.

He was fined $3,400 – $100 per citation – and ordered to pay $3,638 in restitution for the cost of care at the SPCA and at the office of the attending veterinarian, according to the district judge's office. He is no longer affiliated with the animal education program, which now goes by the name Mike’s Critters, managing director Mike Buleza said.

In an interview Monday, Furrer said he believes he is innocent of all or most of the citations, and that a humane society officer misinterpreted what she saw.

Humane Society Police Officer Nicole Lawrence was called to Furrer’s home on the 400 block of Nauvoo Road during an eviction at his property on Feb. 2, 2016, according to Smith. There, Lawrence found a large number of dead animals in varying stages of decay and others living in poor condition.

"Some were so decayed that they were skeletal remains," Smith said. "Even for the live animals, there were not any of them that we thought were in good physical condition (or) a good living environment. The entire situation was a citable offense."

Animals found in the home included an alligator, bearded dragon, snapping turtle, snakes, tarantulas, spiny-tailed lizards, scorpions, African bullfrogs, an Indian ringneck parakeet, a burrowing parrot, a leopard gecko and a blue-tongued skink, according to court documents.

Most of them were taken to an animal hospital in Dallastown, Smith said.

Upon examination, many were found to be suffering from dehydration, malnutrition or other medical conditions caused by improper care and poor living conditions, documents state. 

Two African bullfrogs were infested with parasites, several snakes had dermatitis, a blue-tongued skink had mouth rot and pneumonia, and a spiny-tailed lizard died of kidney failure. A Kenyan sand boa developed chronic stomatitis, a fungus so severe it migrated to its brain and resulted in death.

The surviving animals have been placed for adoption, Smith said.

FURRER IN DENIAL DESPITE BEING FOUND GUILTY

Furrer said he wasn't neglecting his animals.

Reptiles are different than mammals, he said. Some of his animals ate less in the winter months, so their cages didn't have to be cleaned as often. And some didn't drink every day, so they didn't always have access to water.

A few days before the SPCA was called to his home, his furnace stopped working, causing about five corn snakes to die from the cold, he added. The other dead animals found in the home – such as a burrowing parrot that he kept in its carrier for two to three years after its death – had been dead for quite some time because he didn't want to throw them away.

"She's my No. 2 bird," Furrer said of his parrot, Penny. "(The SPCA) doesn't have a right to tell me what I have to do with Penny when she dies."

Furrer is prohibited from owning animals for 30 days per citation, totaling 1,020 days, according to court documents.

"Do you know what that is to me?" Furrer said. "I have had a pet since I was 4 years old, and now, they're telling me I can't have a pet. I don't ever remember being without a pet."

Smith said the SPCA was very happy with the outcome.

"These animals were being used for educational purposes as part of a business," she said. "And certainly no one could have imagined how they were living, especially given the nature of the business."

Furrer left his role as animal presenter with Bob’s Critters in February 2016 after the SPCA was called to his home, according to Buleza, the managing director of the business. It now features animals Buleza owns and ones owned by other presenters.

“We have great respect for our animals,” Buleza said. “They’re healthy and well cared for.”

On Sunday, Buleza changed the name of the program to Mike’s Critters and removed photos of Furrer from the website. The site says that Furrer has retired as a presenter.

“We still believe it’s so important to expose children to reptiles and animals they don’t see very often close up and to help children understand and value these important animals,” Buleza said. “We feel badly for the situation, but we’re moving ahead in a positive way and continuing the tradition that Bob started. He taught a lot of children and adults … in his 12 years of service to the community. We’re going to continue that service.”

Is Mike Buleza trying to convince us that, despite having been the managing director of the business, he didn't know anything? That he never went to Bob's house and saw all the dead animals lying in their cages and aquariums??? 

(York Daily Record - March 29, 2017)

Florida: Daniel Lawlor and Ashtyn Rance arrested after authorities found 114 lizards and hermit crabs in their van. Florida Fish & Wildlife KILLED SEVENTY-SIX OF THESE ANIMALS FOR NO GOOD REASON!

FLORIDA -- It wasn’t the marijuana that got two men in trouble with the law during a traffic stop on Cudjoe Key Wednesday but something else packaged for sale — reptiles.

Fort Pierce resident Daniel Lawlor and Ashtyn Rance of Miami were handed several misdemeanor charges after a mix of 114 crabs and reptiles were found in the Dodge minivan the two were pulled over in at mile marker 23.5 bayside.

NOTHING TO SMILE ABOUT
They killed this little lizard for no reason except he wasn't
native to Florida and the 2 men did not have permits for him.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Rance, 30, was driving north on U.S. 1 when a Key West police officer pulled him over for reportedly “acting suspiciously in the area” of Sugarloaf School and running a stop sign around 10 a.m. A search of the van began when the officer smelled marijuana.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ken Fricke arrived scene and discovered the animals divided into separate bags and plastic containers.

FWC officers Jefferson Carroll and Matt Rubenstein were called to the scene and identified a red rat snake, 27 giant day geckos, 33 green iguanas and 37 land hermit crabs. 

They also found 14 Cuban knight anoles (a type of lizard), one giant Jamaica anole and a large-headed anole.

Lawlor, 35, reportedly said the animals were caught on Summerland Key and were being taken to a wholesale business called Emerald Coral Reptiles to be sold. Emerald Coral & Reptiles is listed as a reptile supply store in Miami.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission killed all
76 reptiles whose only crime was that they weren't native to
Florida and the 2 men who had them didn't have proper permits.

Lawlor and Rance were charged with one misdemeanor each for not having a license to sell saltwater animals and transporting the animals without having required documents for where they were being taken; and two misdemeanor counts each for violating state law regulating the taking of the animals.

Rance was charged also with a misdemeanor count of personal possession of wildlife without a permit and was ticketed for driving without a license. Lawlor had an additional misdemeanor charge for possessing wild animals without a permit from the FWC to sell them.

They were booked into the county jail on Stock Island. Bond has not been set.

FWC spokesman Bobby Dube said the Giant Day Geckos, Green Iguanas and three species of Anoles (lizards) are not native to Florida so THEY KILLED THEM ALL.

The red snake and the hermit crabs were released back into the wild.

They killed this little lizard for no reason except he wasn't
native to Florida and the 2 men did not have permits for him.

This seems extreme. Although they're not native to Florida, they could have been sold via legal channels to people who would obtain the proper permits. This is my problem with Fish & Game people. They just kill things all the time for seemingly no good reason. 

They killed 27 Giant Day Geckos. 

They killed 33 Green Iguanas. 

They killed 14 Cuban Knight Anoles (lizards).

They killed 1 Giant Jamaica Anole (lizard).

They killed 1 Large-Headed Anole (lizard).

SEVENTY-SIX ANIMALS KILLED BY THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

The Lower Keys population of red rat snakes is considered a species of special concern by the FWC and live or dead specimens cannot legally be collected without a permit.

Dube said the arrests have prompted an investigation into the selling practices at Emerald Coral & Reptiles.

ARREST INFO:

Full Name: Ashtyn Michael Rance
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 05/19/1986
Block: 10300 Orange Ave
City: Fort Pierce, Florida 34945
Occupation: UNEMPLOYED
Arrest Age: 30
Date: 01/25/2017
Arresting Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife
Arrest Location: US1 MM23.5 BAYSIDE, Monroe, FL
Location: Monroe County, Florida
Charges
#1 VIOL SALTWATER PRODUCTS LIC REGS
STATUTE: 379.361.2a ( Misdemeanor)

#2 VIOL SALTWATER PRODUCTS TRANSPORT REGULATIONS
STATUTE: 379.362.4 ( Misdemeanor)

#3 PERSONAL POSSESSION OF WILDLIFE WO PERMIT
STATUTE: 379.3762.1 ( Misdemeanor)

#4 VIOL FWC RULE OR ORDER LEVEL TWO
STATUTE: 379.401.2a ( Misdemeanor)

#5 VIOL FWC RULE OR ORDER LEVEL TWO
STATUTE: 379.401.2a ( Misdemeanor)

Full Name: Daniel Ryan Lawlor
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 11/02/1981
Block: 19800 NE 12th Ave
City: Miami, Florida 33179
Occupation: UNEMPLOYED
Arrest Age:35
Date: 01/25/2017
Arresting Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife
Arrest Location:MM 23.5 BAYSIDE CUDJOE KEY, US-1, Monroe, FL
Location: Monroe County, Florida
Charges
#1 VIOL SALTWATER PRODUCTS LIC REGS
STATUTE: 379.361.2a ( Misdemeanor)

#2 VIOL SALTWATER PRODUCTS TRANSPORT REGULATIONS
STATUTE: 379.362.4 ( Misdemeanor)

#3 POSSESS SELL WILD ANIMAL WO AUTHORITY
STATUTE: 379.3761.1 ( Misdemeanor)

#4 VIOL FWC RULE OR ORDER LEVEL TWO
STATUTE: 379.401.2a ( Misdemeanor)

#5 VIOL FWC RULE OR ORDER LEVEL TWO
STATUTE: 379.401.2a ( Misdemeanor)

Daniel Lawlor's previous arrests:

September 2016
#1 POSSESSION OF HEROIN
STATUTE: 893.13-6a(Her)
BOND: $1000

#2 POSS CANNABIS 20 GRAMS LESS/ SYNTH CANN 3 GMS LESS
STATUTE: 893.13-6b

June 2015
#1 AGG ASSAULT W/ DEADLY WEAPON WITHOUT INTENT TO KILL
STATUTE: 784.021-1a

#2 DOMESTIC BATTERY BY STRANGULATION-DATING RELATION
STATUTE: 784.041-2a(HGD)

#3 TOUCH OR STRIKE/BATTERY/DATING VIOL
STATUTE: 784.03-1a1(HGD)

#4 PROBATION VIOLATION OR COMMUNITY CONTROL/FEL/MISD
STATUTE: 948.06

June 2012
#1 CAPIAS - MISD
STATUTE: CAP-MISD
BOND: $2000
NOTES: TRESPASS OTHER STRUCT/CONVEY

(Miami Herald - January 27, 2017)

Former Radford pet store owner, Alexander Nelson, ordered to give up his animals

VIRGINIA -- A former Radford pet store owner has been forced to give up his animals.

On Monday, a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge ordered Alexander Nelson IV to sign over custody of a number of dogs and a hamster.

Nelson was charged in 2014 with 43 counts of animal cruelty. He was once the owner of Classy Critters in Radford, a pet store that is no longer in operation.

According to Angels of Assisi, when animal control arrived at his property in April, they found 32 under-socialized dogs living in inhumane conditions.

The dogs, which are keeshond and husky mixes, were taken into the care of Angels of Assisi on April 25 and have been receiving routine medical treatment and extensive rehabilitation. Angels of Assisi says volunteers have been working to socialize the dogs and most of them are ready for foster care and adoption.

(WBJ7 - May 05, 2015 )

Earlier:

• Former Radford pet store owner faces multiple animal cruelty charges
• Former Radford pet shop owner guilty of animal cruelty

Former Radford pet shop owner guilty of animal cruelty

VIRGINA -- The owner of a former pet shop in the city was found guilty of 15 counts of animal cruelty Thursday in General District Court.
 
Alexander Montgomery Nelson IV, of Roanoke, was sentenced to pay $1,500 in fines and was barred from selling or possessing any animals by General District Judge H. Lee Harrell. Nelson will cease operation of Classy Critters, formerly located at 1031 E. Main St. He was also sentenced to 15 jail sentences of 180 days, all of which were suspended.

In June, Radford police and animal control responded to a complaint of a foul odor coming from inside the pet shop, according to a city news release.

Authorities then obtained a search warrant based on the odor and condition of the animals in view.

Police seized three dogs, two turtles, one bearded dragon, one leopard gecko, one fat-tailed gecko and numerous fish. They also found deceased animals including multiple rodents and fish.

Nelson originally faced a total of 43 charges, including the 15 animal cruelty counts, 15 counts of failure of a dealer or pet store to provide adequate care, five counts of improper disposal of a deceased animal, three counts of not providing rabies shots for dogs, three counts of not having a license for dogs and two counts of dogs running at large, according to the release.

Today, Nelson faces a hearing on restitution for the state’s time and effort in caring for his animals after they were seized from him in June, Radford Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Annis said.

In 2009, Nelson was charged with 200 misdemeanor counts of improperly disposing of a dead animal in Pulaski County General District Court for leaving hundreds of dead rats to decompose on his property near Snowville.

A judge ordered Nelson to clean them up within a month, then changed his mind in October of that year after an official with the Department of Environmental Quality told police it would be best not to disturb the rats. Nelson was then ordered to let the rats decompose on-site and not dump any more, according to Roanoke Times records. The charges were dismissed in 2010, according to Roanoke Times records.
(Roanoke.com - Dec 4, 2014)

Earlier:

• Former Radford pet store owner faces multiple animal cruelty charges

Family abandons seven Siberian Huskies in feces-filled Florida home

FLORIDA -- Two Port St. John tenants left seven dehydrated, flea-infested Siberian huskies and two sickly lizards inside a house filled with feces, urine, roaches and maggots, Brevard County sheriff's investigators say.

 

 

Brandon Schelin, 27, and Jamie Welch, 28, each face nine counts of animal cruelty and nine counts of confinement of animals without sufficient food or water.

Schelin and Welch were arrested Thursday at their home on Beaverbrook Street, a residential road northeast of Interstate 95 and Fay Boulevard.

The duo were in the process of being evicted, an arrest report shows. A woman checked on the home for the property owner Thursday, found the front door slightly cracked open, walked inside — and called law enforcement.

  

A deputy arrived and "observed fecal matter across every inch of the floor, dried areas of urine as well as fresh infestation of roaches, maggots and other unidentifiable bugs from the doorway of the residence," she described in the arrest report.

The Siberian huskies — five puppies and two adults — were underweight, dehydrated, flea-infested and had neither food nor water. What's more, the puppies showed signs of advanced anemia.

One lizard, a leopard gecko, was underweight with low stores of fat in its tail. The other, an underweight, dehydrated Savannah monitor, had large scars across its back.

 

Schelin told a deputy that he and Welch had been away from the home the past eight to 12 days, staying with a friend. He said he had returned home to bring the animals food about five days ago.

An animal control officer declared the home an inhumane living area and took custody of the animals. Schelin and Welch were each released from jail on $9,000 bond. No court dates have been scheduled.

(WTSP 10 News - Oct 7, 2014)

Former Radford pet store owner faces multiple animal cruelty charges

VIRGINA -- A Roanoke man and former pet store owner is facing multiple animal cruelty charges.

Alexander Nelson IV, is charged with 43 animal cruelty misdemeanors. He was once the owner of Classy Critters in Radford, a pet store that is no longer in operation.

On June 13, Radford City Police and Animal Control officers responded to a complaint that a foul odor was coming from the pet store.

When authorities arrived, they saw unsanitary conditions and conducted a search.

Three dogs, two turtles, one Bearded Dragon, one Leopard Gecko, one Fat Tailed Gecko and numerous fish were seized.

Police found numerous fish, rodents and a Fire Bellied Toad that were dead.

Nelson is charged with the following misdemeanors:

- 15 animal cruelty charges
- 15 charges of failure of dealer/pet store to provide adequate care
- 5 counts of improper disposal
- 3 counts of of not having rabies shots for dogs
- 3 counts of not having licenses for dogs
- 2 counts of having dogs running at large

(WDBJ7 - June 20, 2014)