Well, I sure do want to thank everyone that chimed in on this. As usual, I appreciate the support that this site has always given me. This is of course a lot worse then being accused of selling a mite covered snake. Yes, it is all true though. Details, because I know you are wondering.
Back in July two chimps escaped here in Vegas. This was the open door that HSUS was waiting for. They jumped on a congressman and started drafting a new law in Nevada that is out to ban all exotics, including reptiles and amphibians. I started gearing up for a fight right away, along with the help of many other exotic owners here in Nevada, mostly mammal people (tigers, lions). We decided this was an exotics issue, and we would band together to fight. All for one. Then came along this little grub named Justin Mietz. He claimed to be ready to lead the fight, and was going to fight for only the herps. In an open lettered email, I suggested to him that he should sit down and shut up and let the adults take care of this. I also, in the same letter, told Andrew to keep USARK out of Nevada and that we didn't need his help. Months later on a herping/whale sharking trip to Baja, Bob Ashley, co-owner of the Tinley reptile show, among other shows, told me he heard that USARK had painted a big bulls eye on my back and was gunning for me. He's the one that told me about what Walsh was saying about me. He said it was because I'd cost them money by keeping them from yelling "fire" about Nevada and cutting into their fund raising plans. I'd just spoken in person with Wyatt in July at IHS, and explained to him why I did not feel USARK needed to spend money in Nevada, and that I felt I had the situation handled, but would yell if I ended up needing help. Andrew and I have always gotten along and I thought we were friends. It appeared that this criminal background check was all Walsh's doing, urged on by hero wanna be Justin Meitz. I guess he felt I took the wind out of his sails or something, and this was his payback to discredit me. Beats me. I don't want to be a hero, and I don't want to be in the lime light. I just want to be happy and play with my herps and make a living doing so. And that's what I do. I don't want to testify to the Nevada Congress, and I sure don't want what's going on now. I lead a happy, somewhat dull life, and I like it that way. Walsh is a poor lawyer. She looked me up, got my name mixed up with someone else, and proclaimed my guilty of child molestation. She never bothered to look at the fact that the man she looked up is 74 years old and still in prison. Now I'm no raving beauty, but please ... I don't think I look 74. A photograph of the convicted man was included in the report. It sure ain't me. I spoke to her, and she explained it was a mistake. But in the meantime, how many other people had she told that it was me? I found out about it in Mexico for goodness sake! So I went to USARK, and complained about their vice president. Walsh's professional profile stated clearly that she was vice president of USARK. Turns out she's not, and never was. It appears Andrew made her vp all by himself, with no approval from the board that must approve all officers and board members. This makes two lies I caught her in. Time went by as I tried to decide what to do. I spoke to my friends on the USARK board, who all said they would resign and walk away from USARK. All I had to do was say the word. However, I didn't want to go down in herp history as the person that destroyed USARK, especially when we need it more then ever, so I suggested everyone stand down, take a deep breath, and ponder it some more. Then came Tinley. Walsh was the only one on my radar, with Justin also being on it, but just a little blip in the corner. The gag order was issued, it was made clear that Walsh had made a terrible mistake, and no one was to say another word about me. And can you believe, the very next day, Wyatt went out onto the reptile show floor and started telling people I was a child molester. I know the people he told (and I'm not telling who, so don't ask). I have witnesses and backup for everything I'm stating here, by the way. One person he told went and told another person who already knew the real story, and the shit hit the fan from there. Andrew was fired from USARK at the show. He was asked to leave at the show. Walsh, who in an interview with Herp Nation radio claims this never happened, was actually there when it happened. 3rd lie that I know of. She claimed on the radio that none of these events happened, which ends up adding up to about a dozen lies. Lied through her teeth. I was disgusted just listening to her. So, here we have HR511 coming up. I agreed not to sue until Andrew was out of USARK. I agreed to allow Andrew to remain with USARK until the end of the year so he could testify on our behalf before the HR511 hearing. On Dec 31, Andrew Wyatt "resigned" from USARK. Now that my friends were clear from any fall out, well, here I am. I did not do this right away because I was in Peru for the past two weeks, and hey, asshole or not, Andrew had to wait until after my vacation. I'm sure you guys understand. I had told Herp Nation the whole story days before I left. They asked me to go on the air and tell my story. I told them I would once I got home and spoke again to my lawyer, just to make sure this would not effect my lawsuit, if I choose to file one. Andrew has no money, and a case like this will cost a lot. So I'm still ponding my options. I contacted Herp Nation today and told them it was time. They said they had to run it by their lawyers first. Fair enough. But I doubt if they ran it by the lawyers when Walsh came on the radio and lied through her teeth. In the meantime, I can't sit by and let Andrew start up this US Herp Alliance when I know it's just to replace his $80,000 a year job he was just fired from. So I decided to act on my own, and let the chips lay where they fall. He is dishonest and very low, and will obviously throw anyone under the bus that gets in his way. In the way of lining his pockets with our hard earned money that is. I can't sit back while he flourishes on a stack of lies, while potentially effecting the donations to USARK and PJAC. He accused me of raping children! For what? Beats me. But if he will stoop this low, no matter for what reason, what else is he capable of? We don't need his stinking help, we don't need his stinking alliance, and what we really need is for him out of our hobby and industry. I would suggest he get a job busing tables at Applebees. That's about all he's good for. I never really understood where he came from, but where ever that is, he should go back and leave us alone. So, there it is. I tried to lay it out as best I can. If you have questions of me, ask. If I can answer them I will. If the questions effect others in this case that are innocent, I won't answer. Fair enough? I refuse to hurt my friends, and I refuse to drag anyone else into this. Bob Ashley says he's more then willing to verify everything I've said today about Andrew. Call him. Email him. Or not. I have nothing to gain by stating what I know about Walsh and Wyatt. Nothing but my good name and reputation, which means a lot to me. But I am concerned about our industry. Don't give Wyatt a dime. Let his alliance fail. Keep him unemployed in our industry. I called him a friend. See where it got me?
low. I had to deal with some similar remarks coming from a lowly troll, and even that was infuriating. Even when it comes from an obviously degenerate troll, it's not something that should be casually tossed around, or something that people automatically ignore, just based on the source. It kinda tends to stick in your mind. To have what was an ostensibly respectable public figure making such claims, that's a whole different level of potential damage. I'm all for the smiting of one's enemy, but there has to be some lines drawn. If Ken ends up taking it to court, I hope he wins big.
