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Got Off Thirteen Turtles Charge
posted (February 7, 2017)
In June of last year, we told you how the Fisheries Department made a major bust of 17 Hicatee turtles which they allegedly confiscated from from Goldburn Seguro, and his nephew Hilberto. The Fisheries Department accused them of illegally fishing them, and but when it came to actually proving that allegation, they failed to do so.

As we told you, the Fisheries Department claimed that they caught both men at the Lords Bank Junction on June 7. They searched a vehicle that they were in, and found 3 of the turtles, so, the Department then allegedly took the pair to Hilberto Seguro's Biscayne Home. That's when they found the other 13 more, and according to the Fisheries Department, they were able to conduct this sting operation because they had been monitoring the duo for about a week. Hicatee turtles are endangered, and they have a strict season and permits for harvesting.

So, this supposed to have been an open and shut case right? Well, it turned out that it wasn't because the Fisheries Department did not follow the Magistrates Court's criminal procedure rules. That's because Magistrate Carlon Mendoza ordered that the case had to start today.

Instead of being ready to offer evidence against both men, the Fisheries Department's prosecutor came to court and asked for another adjournment, but the records show the court had shown patience to by granting 4 adjournments before today. The attorney for the defendants, Leeroy Banner, pointed out to the court that the Fisheries Department has either been absent or simply not ready to start.

The fisheries prosecutor told the court that they could not produce their witnesses for today, but Banner urged the court to strike the matter out because the Department had been given more than enough time to start their case.

After consideration, Magistrate Mendoza agreed and dismissed the case against both men, setting them free.

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