Topics: Australia, News, World News, Animal Cruelty
A woman who shot to internet notoriety earlier this year has been arrested following a video showing her taking a baby wombat from its mother.
A content creator from Montana faced the frustrations of Australians earlier this year after a viral video quickly spread around social media.
The 25-year-old creator, Sam Jones, shared a video of herself laughing as she picked up a baby wombat and running away from its mother towards her vehicle.
Heartbreakingly, the joey’s mother is seen frantically chasing after her seconds later.
Advert
Jones, who also goes by Samantha Strable, held the visibly agitated animal up to the camera while smiling and saying ‘I caught a baby wombat’.
She eventually relinquished the wombat as it made hissing noises, a clear sign that it was distressed.
She said: “OK, mom is right there...and she is p**sed. Alright, let's let him go."
This didn’t go down well on the internet and many people called for Strable’s arrest, only to be disappointed and learn that she had already left the country.
The self-described 'wildlife biologist and environmental scientist' left the country at a time when officials were saying that she was no longer welcome back.
However, the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office, of Pinedale, Wyoming, confirmed that they have now arrested Strable.
The police department shared a list of individuals who had been arrested for the week dated November 17 to November 24 and she was included.
On the website, Strable was pictured and next to the mugshot, it read: “Samantha Strable of Pinedale Wyoming was booked on November 21st for False Swearing x6, tak[ing] wildlife without a license and non-resident hunting without a guide.”
Stable had allegedly claimed that she was a resident of the state in order to get hunting tags or permits, according to state court documents.
The influencer is believed to be a resident of Great Falls, Montana, despite claims that she lived in Pinedale.
Wyoming Game and Fish Warden Jacob Miller also revealed that her resident hunter status was revoked as she hadn’t been in Wyoming for an extended period of time.
The state law details that someone must live in Wyoming for a full calendar year before applying for residential hunting licenses, with this status being taken away if you're out of state for over 180 days or if you abandon your home.
Miller was given a tip back on 11 August, claiming that Strable was allegedly continuing to buy resident tags even though she hadn't lived in the state for more than two years.
Strable could now face up to a year in jail and a $5,000 - $10,000 fine for every count she has been accused of.
