2 Englewood women charged with harming sea turtle nest

[The Straight Story]

2 Englewood women charged with harming sea turtle nest

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. - Two Englewood women were arrested Monday on 3rd-degree felony charges for disrupting a sea turtle nest. But the actions designed to protect the threatened reptiles have people debating property laws.

"It's absolutely, positively ludicrous…she would never, ever harm a turtle nest or do anything to harm wildlife." A morning press conference held by Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission turned into a heated debate Monday, when Kim Tollett demanded to know what charges her mother -- Juanita Schultz -- was facing.

Monday morning, FWC and Charlotte County deputies arrested 73-year-old Schultz and one of her tenants, 55-year-old Mary Cammarano-Richards, for disturbing a sea turtle nest...a 3rd-degree felony.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office contacted FWC after receiving a tip about the disturbance. That's when FWC officers went to Schultz's home. "Basically (they) covered up the nest. They had some lawn chairs that they were sitting on walking across the area. There was also the scrape for where the turtle had went in, put its nest in...they basically smoothed over the nest itself, raked it over, and were walking around it and sitting in the area," says Lt. Jonathan Ruggier of the FWC.

....

"I went down to watch the sunset the other night, and my lawn chairs and my entrance to the beach were all taped off with turtle tape; I went and sat down in my chairs and said 'this is ridiculous', and I pulled up the turtle stakes because they had been told that they're not allowed on private property."

http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=12688272

[SunnySong]

1. I'm thinking that this would be a good case for a special sentencing as a warning to others.

This is a felony for a reason. This woman doesn't deserve to live on the beach. Perhaps a judgement that relocates her away from endagered wildlife would be in order. Kind of like for child molesters she can't live withen 1500 feet of wildlife.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. But it's ok to burn the turtles ala BP?

[Nikki Stone1]

3. You beat me to it.

If you're a big big corporation, you can break every law. If you're an average person, God help you 'cause the government won't.

[City Lights]

6. My first thought.

x(

[Lorien]

11. That was my first thought as well

the laws only apply to us non-wealthy, non corporate persons. :grr:

[mattvermont]

4. ok, I'll bite

Their attitude and action is ridiculous, of course. That said...WHAT THE 'UCK?

Just makes me think of a precious Dylan line...."Steal a little and they throw you in jail,..steal a lot and they make you king"

[Nikki Stone1]

5. See this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8615161&mesg_id=8615161

[The Straight Story]

7. Companies pay fines, people go to jail. Want to break the law? Start a company (nt)

[KT2000]

8. Charge them!

Got to go on a tour once of Protection Island - a small island that is breeding grounds for 90% of the Puget Sound seabirds.
We were told to stay on the wooden walkway about 100 ties but sure enough - the wife of a local loud RWer kept walking all over the vegetation - for no reason that I could see.

This woman is of the same mentality - "no one can tell me what to do because I am more important than everything and everyone. Animals do not matter."

[flvegan]

9. Poor Juanita in her million dollar income property. Just wanted to watch the sunset.

There is no debate. Hope your lawyer costs you a fortune. May this send a message to everyone lucky enough to have beachfront property in the area.

[Aramchek]

10. throw her in the can for a few days and she'll never bother turtle tape again

dumbass!

[Angry Dragon]

12. If she is guilty then the government needs to

watch all cleanup crews of bp and arrest them if they do the same thing.
Equal laws for everyone.

How come bp is not being arrested for burning turtles?? People have seen them do it.

[guitar man]

13. Who do they think they are?

BP? :shrug:

[lpbk2713]

14. These are Katherine Harris' kind of people.

Harris represented Englewood (13th Cong Dist) from '03 to '07.

Krazy Katie would be proud.

[lonestarnot]

15. I would like to kick this fuckwad's ass!

Contemptuous fuckwad!