Illegal-animals suspect faces jail, fines

The alleged owner of a boa constrictor and four piranhas found by firefighters in an Alewa Heights home failed to show up in state court twice this month to answer to charges of possessing illegal animals.

Ricardo S. Newcomb Jr. failed to show up for his arraignment Sept. 20 and again Thursday.

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins ordered the forfeiture of the $500 bail that Newcomb posted and issued an $11,000 warrant for his arrest.

Newcomb is facing jail time and a mandatory fine of up to $10,000 for possessing a snake, and a fine of between $50,000 and $200,000 for possessing the fish with the intent to propagate them.

Firefighters found the animals while responding to a fire that damaged four adjacent homes in Alewa Heights on Feb. 24, 2011.