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James Stelpflug SW Wisconsin reptiles is a liar

I would just like to say that there is not ever going to be a winner in the reptile business when we use the government at any level to settle our differences, regardless of the reason.
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I agree Evan. I can't imagine what Jim could come up with that would convince me that he was justified in turning in the OP. It appears that he had one of the lowest excuses, in my book, and that is retaliation. But, as Evan said any government involvement is just shooting yourself in the foot. :shootfoot
 
Turning someone in to the city isn't the nicest thing to do but it isn't no where near what they did and besides, the article said that several others had already turned them in over the summer so whatever he said in the winter was probably not even necessary for an investigation.
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Regardless of whether this statement is true or not, the fact remains that Jim did turn them in. It doesn't make any difference whether it was necessary or not.
 
kmurphy said:
Regardless of whether this statement is true or not, the fact remains that Jim did turn them in. It doesn't make any difference whether it was necessary or not.
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And to me it boils down to this: Don't keep illegal animals.

There is enough trouble with more and more legislature and bad media in general. But to knowingly keep illegal animals is criminal and is even uglier to the public. The potential for trouble was always there regardless of how it happened.

Most herpers have former friends, enemies in the hobby or at least those with knowledge of what you keep. Multiple posts get started by former friends or associates all the time. If someone outside of yourself knows what your collection consists of then I'd treat it as if everyone knows. That includes the law.

They handed Jim the ammo after they went 'Winchester' (Air Force term for no munitions left) and Jim shot back.

I like certain species that are illegal in NY. I don't keep them for that simple fact. Follow the laws while seeking to change them would be my approach in their situation or just move.

Things always catch up. :thumbsup:
 
kmurphy said:
Regardless of whether this statement is true or not, the fact remains that Jim did turn them in. It doesn't make any difference whether it was necessary or not.
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My point was that they were going to get busted for illegal reptiles because of all the other complaints and that it was not the sole doing of James, as they would have you believe.

I also believe that it is those that break the reptile laws that do the most damage to the hobby. Having a full blown snake and rat farm in a single family dwelling in the city limits is just asking for trouble. Also, after breaking some city, state and federal laws, I'm sure screwing someone over comes second nature. Look how many dirtbags have started out just that way. First it is illegal reptiles then in the end they have screwed dozens of people out of thousands of dollars.
 
I agree with Evan completely that involving government to settle our differences in the reptile community is going to result in no winners. It should be an absolutely last resort. That said, to borrow an expression from a recent Survivor contestant, it's hard to separate the snakes from the rats in this whole sordid affair.
 
If we are going to stand by the " the government should be involved" then the fault should lie with the person filing the lawsuit as well as the person filing the complaint. This seems like a squabble gotten out of hand - IMO both were in the wrong unless I hear from Jim a darn good reason for his filing of the complaint - but IMO the lawsuit was a bad move as well.
 
HerpOly said:
We are getting away from the facts. In August of 2006 animal control visited Bill & Linda. Bill and Linda showed them 10 snakes and claimed they were the only ones. Bill delivered the false water cobra to Jim at the Du Page County show in August following Daytona.

The letter, which was written by the city attorney and signed by Jim states he witnessed ball pythons, rainbow boas, and red tails on their table at the Iowa Herp Society table. A fact easily pr oven by contacting any officer of the Iowa Herp Society.

November 26th, Jim witnessed Rainbows, red tails, and dums at their table at the DuPage County show. Over a thousand people were there that day, lots of people witnessed that.

Jim saw illegal animals at their home two years ago. That is a fact that is harder to prove, but probably will be proven in time. How is Jim a liar? Care to answer that Linda? The law suite over a poor mouse feeder ball python had nothing to due with the events. I am the one brought that all out in the open for everyone to see. The jeopardizing of Jim's livelyhood in AUGUST caused Jim to finally react to Bill & Linda"s nonsense. The whole truth is out there. Jim didn't initiate Dubuque's interest in Bill & Linda, but when THEY got ignorant, Jim finally agreed to cooperate with the city in their case,because of their actions.
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This is exactly why I would like Jim to come on here and answer for himself. I find problems in statements like this.
Like why wouldn't Jim have had a conscience 2 years ago? Or 4?
Like why would Jim be contacted by the city attorney? Who contacted who first?
If some of Linda's animals are out of the city now, was there always a place outside the limits for the animals or some of them?
If there was some kind of deal going on about the ball why wasn't any of it tried to be handled, for instance here, within the reptile community first?

Unfortunately I feel I am in some sort of secret society. If Jim thought that Linda was soooo bad in having those animals there why hasn't any of this come up before authorities were informed? Perhaps things could have been rectified and it would not have escalated this far.

I do not care for the way in which Linda is handling this. Coming on making a statement, Jim's friends saying no way would he do that, then Linda coming on with proof then out she goes too. All the while Jim NeVeR comes on here but has a spokes person. (I will add one that did drive the snake back but the rest is heresay)

Again, neither party look very good to me at this point.
 
Stardust said:
Again, neither party look very good to me at this point.
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One party is using hit and run tactics. Not even the 'ole post a couple times, then post that this is my last post and slink away. The other party is avoiding the whole thing outright.

Just throwing information out when it discredits the other party and then high-tailing it out of the thread and not answering any rebuttals just reinforces Stardust's quote.
 
And how many of the above posters are basing their opinions on 2nd and 3rd hand info? raise your hands please???... Sure it's a common thing on the BOI but sure doesn't make it right and makes ya look --- well you know how it makes ya look when ya find that you took it hook line and sinker.

We all do this and I'll joining the crowd IE Tim here is really beginning to smell rather rank to me... He is playing cheerleader and the crowd is starting to follow...

Myself I'd like to see some real proof Tim, come on back up your post!!!!

Tim what's the difference between what you've done here and My saying that you ripped off a good friend of mine for 2 grand??? Not much difference as it would be second hand and there is no proof that what either of us posted is true. So provide some real proof or take a hike... Randy
 
Linda, you did not answer the question on wether you kept any restricted animals in your house. Since you do not want the whole truth to come out, maybe I should help you with your memory. In approximately August of last year, Bill handed me a box at the All Animal Expo at DuPage County. Jim asked Bill what it was, and Bill responded it was Jim's false water cobra that he had on a breeding loan. The same FWC that the two of you attempted to sell to a mutual friend in Des Moines. This snake is illegal to possess in Illinois without a permit. Jim lives 1o minutes from your house, yet you had to deliver it where it is illegal. Jim had around $50,000 to $100,000 worth of snakes with him that day. Do you THINK attempting to jeopardize his primary source of income may of had something to do with his animosity? Remember lots of people know what you breed and will start telling the broad amount of snakes that you kept in your home. This is just one story I will tell, and there are many more. The sad part is you have been trying to ruin Jim's reputation for over a year. Why?

This is a post I placed in the Linda & Bill thread in case you have missed it. I have given a truthful account of the facts. Not hearsay as much as being a witness to the events as they occurred. I do not have a lot of time to sit down and respond to every question when they come up. This is the prime time of the egg laying season, and Jim is extremely busy taking care of animals at this time. I have a little more free time than Jim does and can answer some questions occasionally. If you doubt the facts as I have portrayed them, I have told you where the facts can be found, validate them for your self. If I am a mushed brained stooge for telling the truth so be it. I do not understand how insulting a witness is productive. It may discourage others from coming forth with evidence.
 
This is probably going to sound stupid - or maybe I've missed something - but since Jim and L&B are only 10 minutes apart - wouldn't that make it illegal for Jim to have the pythons as well? Or does he have a permit or live in another county? If they cannot keep pythons where they are at (L&B) - are they now keeping them illegally since the judge ordered that the python be returned? :shrug01:
 
ravensgait said:
Myself I'd like to see some real proof Tim, come on back up your post!!!!

Tim what's the difference between what you've done here and My saying that you ripped off a good friend of mine for 2 grand??? Not much difference as it would be second hand and there is no proof that what either of us posted is true. So provide some real proof or take a hike... Randy
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I agree Randy. All this "he said, she said" crap is exactly that, crap.

Time to put up or shut up.
 
For those who do not know, I help Jim with his breeding operation, and work his tables at most shows. There is no internet email trail, so proving facts a more difficult. The animals Jim stated he saw on Bill and Linda's table I also saw. Many others saw the animals in question as well. There are no pictures i know of showing the events. Only witnesses to the events. Hopefully others will come forth and validate my claims. I have been truthful, and the truth can not be disputed. If I have lied, that will come out as well, and I will look really bad. I'm smarter than that, I'm truthful, and the truth can not hurt me in a reasonable person's eye.
 
ToshaMc said:
This is probably going to sound stupid - or maybe I've missed something - but since Jim and L&B are only 10 minutes apart - wouldn't that make it illegal for Jim to have the pythons as well? Or does he have a permit or live in another county? If they cannot keep pythons where they are at (L&B) - are they now keeping them illegally since the judge ordered that the python be returned? :shrug01:
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I am with you on this. Ten minutes apart yet one had to go to another state to sue the other for a snake. I am missing something here.

For those who do not know, I help Jim with his breeding operation, and work his tables at most shows. There is no internet email trail, so proving facts a more difficult. The animals Jim stated he saw on Bill and Linda's table I also saw. Many others saw the animals in question as well. There are no pictures i know of showing the events. Only witnesses to the events. Hopefully others will come forth and validate my claims. I have been truthful, and the truth can not be disputed. If I have lied, that will come out as well, and I will look really bad. I'm smarter than that, I'm truthful, and the truth can not hurt me in a reasonable person's eye.
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I have a little more free time than Jim does and can answer some questions occasionally.
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Perhaps you can go and help him out some to free up some of his time to come on here and speak for himself. It is, after all, his name that is on the line here in this thread. :shrug01:
 
I do help him out, but I had a stroke in January and have to limit my time working. In fact I will be going to his house shortly. The origin of the thread is that Jim is a liar, which is easily proven false. When I delivered the ball python to Bill & Linda's home on February 2nd of this year, Jim could have asked someone from animal control to accompany me as a witness, but he did not. It would be an open and shut case against Bill and Linda with a judge ordering the snake delivered to their home at their request in clear violation of the city ordinance. It was time for all the nonsense to end. Bill and Linda refuse to let things end regardless of how bad it is for everyone. Why?
 
HerpOly said:
Jim lives in Wisconsin, Bill and Linda live in Iowa.
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Dickeyville, WI and Dubuque IA are both virtually on the IA/WI state line. That is why they are so close, yet in different states.
 
HerpOly said:
I do help him out, but I had a stroke in January and have to limit my time working. In fact I will be going to his house shortly. The origin of the thread is that Jim is a liar, which is easily proven false. When I delivered the ball python to Bill & Linda's home on February 2nd of this year, Jim could have asked someone from animal control to accompany me as a witness, but he did not. It would be an open and shut case against Bill and Linda with a judge ordering the snake delivered to their home at their request in clear violation of the city ordinance. It was time for all the nonsense to end. Bill and Linda refuse to let things end regardless of how bad it is for everyone. Why?
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This is irrelevant. While we do not know when James sent that letter to Animal Control, we do know that it was at the City Hall Annex as early as Nov 13, 2006. So sending AC with you when you dropped off the BP in Feb 07 would have been redundant.
 
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