Illegal possession of wildlife, unsafe housing Crossville, TN (US) Incident Date: Saturday, Jun 30, 2007 County: Cumberland Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abusers/Suspects: » Tim Campbell » Carla Campbell

Case ID: 12284 Classification: Unlawful Trade/Smuggling, Neglect / Abandonment Animal: other wildlife, captive exotic View more cases in TN (US) Login to Watch this Case

The Cumberland County couple whose rural property was raided by wildlife officials that resulted in the seizure of seven animals entered plea agreements in General Sessions Court Aug. 30 and were fined and placed on probation, according to court records.

Carla and Tim Campbell of Al Goss Rd., owners and operators of Campbell's Wildlife Canyon, off the Genesis end of Potato Farm Rd., entered the plea agreement that bans them from possession of a permit to have wildlife for three years. Both were placed on probation for 11 months and 29 days.

Carla Campbell pleaded guilty to possession of unpermitted Class 1 wildlife, illegal importation of an animal (bear) and illegal housing of a Class 1 animal (brown bear). She was fined a total of $600 and court costs. Ten additional charges were dismissed.

Tim Campbell pleaded guilty to possession of wildlife without a permit and unsafe housing of Class 1 wildlife and was fined $400 and court costs. All additional charges against him were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

In July, local police officers and agents, acting on information from the United States Department of Agriculture, raided Campbell's Wildlife Canyon. A Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency agent obtained a search warrant after USDA agents tipped the local officer off that a local resident had signed for delivery of two of the animals.

TWRA spokesman Dan Hicks, at the time, told the Chronicle, "That sent up red flags all over the place. Two of our agents went to the property and observed a brown bear and based on what they saw, obtained a search warrant for the property."

When officers returned with the search warrant, they found not only the large brown bear, but an African lion, three tigers, a cougar and a black leopard.

The animals have since been distributed to area licensed facilities with the brown bear ending up temporarily at the Knoxville Zoo where it has become a visitors' favorite.

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References

Crossville Chronicle - Sept 14, 2007

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