MILAM COUNTY, Texas - Multiple snakes and drugs were found inside an apartment near a Milam County middle school, says Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD).
What we know:
A Milam County Game Warden was contacted on Feb. 1 by a landlord reporting a tenant for allegedly keeping several venomous snakes in an apartment near Cameron Junior High School.
Game wardens from Travis and Williamson counties and deputies from the Milam County Sheriff's Office assisted with the call "given the nature of the call and the tenant's history", says TPWD.
The tenant admitted to possessing multiple snakes and allowed the wardens to inspect them. However, when the wardens entered the apartment, they reportedly saw what appeared to be methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in plain sight.
A field test confirmed it was meth and the tenant was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. TPWD also noted that the tenant's apartment was within 1,000 feet of the school, a designated drug-free zone.
Photos of some of the snakes and drug paraphernalia found by Game Wardens in a Milam County home. (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
The tenant was Mirandized, and then confessed to keeping, without required permits or a hunting license,:
- A monocled cobra
- A green bush viper
- Rat snakes
- Bull snakes
- Approximately 25 rattlesnakes
A search warrant uncovered more narcotics, drug paraphernalia and more snakes.
What's next:
The suspect now faces multiple charges, including possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1, possession of drug paraphernalia, no valid hunting license and a violation for the lack of a non-indigenous snake permit.
The reptiles have been transferred to a licensed permit holder equipped to care for them, says TPWD.
What we don't know:
TPWD did not identify the person arrested or elaborate on their "history". It is also unknown just how many snakes were removed from the apartment.
The Source: Information in this report comes from Texas Parks and Wildlife.