Woman faces five years in prison after joke photo riding a sea turtle on Florida beach

by Frank Lea | September 27, 2015 1:20 pm

Taking a quick harmless picture with an endangered sea turtle[1] shouldn’t land a woman in jail for up to five years, but it can in Florida.

turtle pic[2]

Stephanie Marie Moore, 20, was one of two women pictured astride the creature during a debauched night on the beach in July.

The Snapchat image, which was circulated on Facebook and Twitter, prompting a criminal investigation by police and animal protection groups in Melbourne, Florida.

On Saturday, officers responding to a disturbance at a home recognized Moore from the photograph and detained her on suspicion of molesting a marine turtle.

I don’t believe she meant harm to the turtle and I’m fairly certain the turtle didn’t mind her popping a quick squat for a photo op. Even though the turtle is endangered, this is now the most famous turtle on social media, and the coverage could open eyes to other animal enthusiasts.

While her actions are of the freshman type, she does not deserve to be in jail.  Give her a slap on the wrist, make her volunteer at an animal facility shoveling excrement, and call it a day.

#TurtleLivesMatter – let’s hope the four legged sea creatures don’t pull a Ferguson and burn the ocean down.

Endnotes:
  1. picture with an endangered sea turtle: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3250323/Woman-20-faces-five-years-jail-photographed-riding-sea-turtle-beach-Florida.html
  2. [Image]: https://rightwingnews1.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/turtle-pic.jpg

Source URL: https://rightwingnews.com/animal-rights/woman-faces-five-years-in-prison-after-joke-photo-riding-a-sea-turtle-on-florida-beach/