A warrant was issued for the arrest of the man accused of letting his now infamous snake escape in Sabraton.
Shane Stevens missed his initial court appearance on Aug. 14 and Morgantown Municipal Judge Stephen Higgins scheduled another hearing for Thursday at 3 p.m.
At the Aug. 14 hearing, Higgins said if Stevens did not show for the next one, he would issue an arrest warrant.
According to a municipal court employee, Stevens did not show to Thursday’s hearing and a warrant was issued.
Stevens is charged with dog and other animal at large, which carries a $500 fine. The snake, which could be as big as 15 feet, escaped from Stevens’ truck on May 30. It has yet to be found. Stevens was arrested and arraigned on June 19.
Some people have called the snake’s escape and the subsequent snake hunt a hoax. Morgantown Spokesperson Andrew Stacy told The Dominion Post it’s real and an officer reported seeing the snake that night. Stevens also showed officers a picture of himself with the snake.
Stacy said Stevens told police the snake was a python, but he didn’t know the exact species. In the police report, it’s referred to as a “15-foot long constricting snake.”
According to police, Stevens was transporting the snake when it escaped its cage and was loose inside the vehicle. He got out of the vehicle and the snake did, too, slithering into the woods. It was last seen on a hillside near Listravia Avenue.
Volunteers, staff from Exotic Jungle Pet Superstore, officers from the Morgantown Police Department searched for the snake over multiple days following its escape. The Monongalia County Emergency Management Office even brought in a drone to assist with search.
