Stapleton fined EC$4,000 for possession of turtle eggs

Alaison Stapleton had to learn the hard way. The Sandy Bay resident was ordered to pay $4,000 after pleading guilty to having 71 turtle eggs in his possession during the closed season for turtles.{{more}}

The Sandy Bay man appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday and was charged under section 17.2, chapter 52, of the Fisheries Act 1990.

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young gave Stapleton three months to pay the fine. In breach, he will go to prison for one year.

The facts read out in court stated that on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, police went to the Stapleton’s home to execute a search warrant. When Stapleton recognised the police, he threw a bowl over a nearby fence.

When the bowl was retrieved, police removed a t-shirt that was placed over it and discovered the turtle eggs.

Under caution, Stapleton told the police he did not live at the house and only wanted to throw away the eggs.