Local News in Brief : Charges on Skin Sales
The city attorney’s office filed misdemeanor charges Thursday against store owners in North Hollywood and Venice accused of dealing in the skins and carcasses of endangered species.
Named in separate cases were the owners of Arte de Mexico, a store and warehouse complex on Riverton Avenue in North Hollywood, and the Marble Canyon Trading Post on Washington Boulevard in Venice.
City Atty. James K. Hahn said the defendants are accused of dealing in such protected wildlife as margays, ocelots, bears, green wing teals, kites and widgeons.
Each of the charges is punishable by a one-year jail term and fines of up to $5,000, Hahn said.
Jerry Stoffers, owner of Arte de Mexico, said he did not know any of his purchases were illegal and said none of them had been made within the last 10 years. “I didn’t know (buying or selling) a deer head was against the law,” he said. “I still have my reservations against it (the law).”
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