Meet 18 y/o Austin Hatfield of Wimauma, Florida (near Tampa). That’s him below….
Austin likes snakes; in fact, and apparently, he likes serpents a little too much. Below is a picture of Austin with a four foot (4′) “cottonmouth” snake (a/k/a water moccasin, swamp moccasin, black moccasin, gapper or simply, viper), which is the world’s only semi-aquatic viper. It is a deadly species of “pit viper” which lives in or near water, particularly slow-moving and shallow lakes, streams or marshes and is indigenous to Florida. (You can see a video that Austin posted to Facebook of him kissing the potentially deadly snake here.)
Last week Austin caught that particular viper near his house and decided to domesticate it as a pet. He reportedly kept it in a pillowcase in his bedroom, taking it out to bond, and to kiss (yes, to kiss). According to his best friend Jason Belcher: “It was a cottonmouth snake, 4 foot… He kept in in a pillow case… He kisses it right on the head… Right on the mouth… Alright he kissed it 12 times. The 13th wasn’t a lucky one. We was sitting in the kitchen and he ran out of the room saying hospital, hospital. Now, now.” And that’s where he ended up, at Tampa General.
Family members reportedly killed the snake and brought it to the hospital with Austin so that anti-venom (which exists and is kept accessible in Florida) could be isolated and used. Because the cottonmouth is venomous Florida law requires a permit (which can be earned after application and proof of 1,000 hours of documented training) to legally capture or keep one but, as Austin skipped that requirement the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering charging him with illegal possession.
I love cats (and at least 50% of the dogs out there – I’m sorry, but if it doesn’t outweigh my cat then it is a not a dog… it’s a barking rat.. but I digress) and I am as affectionate with mine as they are with me (which is to say, “very”), so I get the whole “love thy pet” phenomenon. Still, while Austin may love snakes, he is obviously no Steve Irwin…
“Crikey”….
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Top notch, very skilled, and highly attentive. Mr. Haber is a fantastic criminal defense attorney. 
- Thanks again. You are second to none when it comes to defending your clients. For that, I thank you
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