SACO — Maine authorities say an Old Orchard Beach man is facing charges after a deadly 5-foot-long viper from Africa was found behind a movie theater in Saco.

The venomous Gaboon viper was found dead in the woods on March 8.

Game Warden Rick LaFlamme said today that 35-year-old Karl Ramsdell is facing state charges of keeping illegal wildlife in captivity, a civil violation, and failure to have an importation permit for wildlife, a criminal violation.

The Maine Warden Service says it issued the two summonses last week.

If convicted of the criminal charge, Ramsdell faces up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
 


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