HILLSBOROUGH, NC — A North Carolina man who spent days in the hospital after a pet snake bit him has been found guilty of a misdemeanor “venomous reptile” charge in Orange County, officials say.
Ali Iyoob of Chapel Hill went to UNC Hospitals to get an anti-venom after a king cobra he had in his home bit him on May 2.
Iyoob, 21, was treated at UNC Hospitals and was in critical condition for days after the bite.
He was originally facing several charges, including:
- Possessing two large constricting snakes that were not housed in secure enclosures
- Possessing 18 venomous reptiles that were not properly enclosed
- Possessing a crocodilian that was not housed properly
Officials said Iyoob had “18 poisonous reptiles and two crushing reptiles” that were in violation of Orange County codes.
The animals were not kept in “escape proof or bite proof containers, documents say.
On Monday, Iyoob was convicted of one count ownership of venomous reptile. One count was dismissed.
He was sentenced to 2 years of probation.
Authorities seized the following animals from the property:
- A dog
- A cat
- Four quails
- Five chickens
- Four fish
- An Eastern Painted turtle
- A Cayman
- Eight chicks
- Three Native Mole King Snakes
- A Lavender California King Snake
- A Scarlet King Snake
- Three Whitesided Black Rat Snakes
- An Eastern King Snake
- A Chocolate California King Snake
- Four Orange Gopher Snakes
- Two Reticulated Pythons
- A Cottonmouth Snake
- Two Puff Adders
- An Egyptian Cobra
- A Sharknose Viper
- A Lancehead Viper
- Two Zebra Spitting Cobra
- A Gavan Spitting Cobra
- A Banded Egyptian Cobra
- An Arizona Black Rattlesnake
- A South American Rattlesnake
- A Whitetail Lancehead
- A Fer De Lance
- A Tree Viper
- Two Monocled Cobras
- A King Cobra
- A Box Turtle