A Lakeland man and woman are facing third-degree felony charges after authorities say they killed a small alligator, cut off its tail and attempted to sell the meant to residents in their Lake Parker neighborhood.
Police say Shaun Edward Sparks, 33, is facing two charges under a statute covering intentionally killing an alligator and possession of an alligator, and Christy Vincent, 27, is facing one charge regarding selling alligator meat.
According to an arrest report, four people identified the couple who had been trying to sell the meat in their neighborhood.
During a statement, Sparks told Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers that he stabbed the gator and cut off its tail. Sparks allegedly then told officers he took the tail home to show his girlfriend and “the two then went around the neighborhood trying to get people to buy the alligator tail.”
Alligator season runs from Aug. 15 to Nov. 1 in the state of Florida, but is by special permit only.
Annually, about 6,000 names are drawn randomly from applicants. Although entering the drawing is free, each person awarded a permit must pay for an alligator-trapping license, which costs $272 for a Florida resident and $1,022 for a non-resident.