If, that is, he does 250 hours of community service & finds an animal shelter that will take him for 125 hours TAMPA, Florida––Holding out for a lighter sentence under a plea bargain offer did not wholly pay off on September 12, 2019 for Robert Lee “Bo” Benac III, 30. But Benac did avoid […]
Shark-dragger gets five weekends in jail, fine of $2,500
Copped a plea; last alleged participant will go to trial TAMPA––Florida man Michael Wenzel, 22, who shot a shark in June 2017, then was videotaped exulting as the dying shark was dragged behind a speedboat, will spend five weekends in jail for related offenses, beginning on March 8, 2019, is to pay a fine of […]
One alleged shark-dragger walks, but may testify against the other two
Two felony charges dropped TAMPA, Florida––Claiming a lack of evidence sufficient to warrant a continued prosecution, Florida assistant state attorney Andrew Hubbard on May 1, 2018 informed Hillsborough Circuit Judge Mark Wolfe at a preliminary hearing that the state has dropped all charges against Spencer Heintz, 23, who had faced two counts of aggravated […]
Cownose ray massacre, following shark-dragging, outrages Floridians
$1,600 reward posted for identities of bowhunters who killed rays DESTIN, Florida––Wanton cruelty to members of the shark family has again detonated a Florida furor, nine months after video of three Manatee County men dragging a shark behind their boat at high speed led to felony charges against all three. The latest incident came […]
Felony charges filed against Florida shark-draggers
Prosecution protects the image of $7.6 billion recreational fishing industry TAMPA, Florida––The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office on December 12, 2017 announced that two third degree felony counts each of aggravated animal cruelty have been filed against three men who participated in dragging a live blacktip shark behind […]