CLEARFIELD, Utah - A snake researcher was convicted of unlawfully possessing wildlife, three years after authorities raided his basement and seized 65 reptiles.
Ryan Hoyer took the case to trial in 2nd District Court, insisting he was the victim of a hostile state agency that violated his rights.
He said the 27 rubber boas were part of a research project with his father, a biologist. Hoyer's misdemeanor offense: He acquired the snakes outside Utah without having them inspected. He faces fines of $1,300.
Hoyer said the Division of Wildlife Resources chose a rule that typically applies to livestock to prevent the spread of disease.
"I'm a CPA, an internal auditor. I am all about following the rules," he said.
"If that is the correct interpretation ... then there are countless other Utahns that have broken the law when they moved here with their pets, took their dog to Yellowstone on vacation and brought it back into Utah or even had a housefly hitch a ride inside their Winnebago when they crossed the state line into Utah," Hoyer said.
Hoyer has filed a civil lawsuit against the state, which is pending.
Two other men pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, which were later dismissed.
One of them, James Dixon of Reptile Rescue Service, still does work with the state, taking reptiles from the agency that need to be rescued.
Hoyer claims the case was in retaliation for his public criticism of the division's rules on snakes. He spent $10,000 on his defense.
DWR Capt. John Pratt said authorities had good reason to press the case.
"There are two reasons for that: One is let's follow justice, and two, let's put an end to this so there are no additional allegations," Pratt said.
He said the raid was not related to Hoyer's complaints to lawmakers.
Hoyer said the conviction has hurt his research on the rubber boa, a non-venomous snake found in the West.
