Would be conservationist fined $200

[Paul Cherubini]

http://www.nbc4.com/news/8507478/detail.html?rss=dc&psp=news

Butterfly Bandit Fined $200

Butterfly Gatherer Said His Intentions Were Good

POSTED: 11:21 am EDT April 6, 2006

NORFOLK, Va. -- A Delaware man has been fined $200 for 
gathering butterflies from the Great Dismal Swamp in southeastern 
Virginia.

Joseph Wampler Jr. of Middletown, Del., pleaded guilty in federal 
court this week to a misdemeanor charge of taking butterflies from 
protected lands without permission.

He faced up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Wildlife refuge officials said they were suspicious of Wampler's 
questions about butterflies. Law enforcement officers saw him and 
his son pack butterflies into boxes.

Wampler concedes that what he did was wrong but said is intentions 
were good, to restore rare butterflies in Delaware.

The Great Dismal Swamp is home to dozens of butterfly species, 
including the great purple hairstreak, the sleepy orange and the zebra 
swallowtail.

 
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