Bad Guy Steve Markevich/ Serpent's Den

[TattooLost]

If he's going after the city with legal action, and they've got the paper in their pocket... could be trying to tamper with a future jury...

 

[hhmoore]

With all due respect - Steve can post his own statements. If he doesn't want to comment here, he doesnt have to...but that is his choice. It isn't as if this is a new idea around here.

FWIW, I've spoken with him numerous times over the years, purchased from him, and visited his old store...I would still buy from him if he had something I wanted.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Huh? A city newspaper is complete hearsay? Wow. While I know newspapers love over dramatize things, but to say a report like this from a valid city newspaper has no place on the BOI is plain ridiculous.

I didn't use the word "complete" in anything I said, Sammy. However, without proof from the OP about his personal experience in regards to the situation...I guess I don't get why Steve was labeled a "bad guy" if it was just based on a newspaper article (which again, can be nothing but sensationalized half truths)? We'll have to agree to disagree on the matter of it being a valid reason to post a negative BOI thread based on what little information was provided. Perhaps "info" would have been more appropriate rather then stamping a "bad guy" on the thread.

I btw, don't personally know Steve...Never met him in person at shows or anything...I just chat with him from time to time on RG (and oggle his BPs )...He seems like a very knowledgeable nice guy.

Here is an e-mail that he managed to dig out about the situation:

From: Steve Markevich <[email protected]>
Subject: Snakes
To: "Tom Klonis" <[email protected]>
Date: Saturday, July 5, 2008, 2:48 PM

Tom,

Can you help me get my stuff back by writing a letter and or call my landlord and Donna Crum who contacted me using a hotmail address? Attached is a list of everything taken from me.


I will give you a call tomorrow.

Thanks,
Steve

------------------

Dear Mr. Markevich,

I met with your previous landlords this morning since I am conducting the investigation regarding your snakes.

I am sure you know who I am in reference to this current situation at hand. Let me tell you where I am in the investigation at this point in time, since you have been reluctant to contact me personally.

I was given the file from the Lehighton Police Dept. regarding a possible cruelty case against your establishment.

I have currently interviewed all parties involved except you due to your obvious avoidance. I need you to contact me within 72 hours to try and resolve the current issues at hand, which are the following.

In Pennsylvania, we have laws regarding the humane treatment of ALL animals, whether mammals or reptiles. The law directly from the Pennsylvania Humane Society Police Officer Handbook states the following:

Subsection 5511c CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Amended in December 1986, the following are prohibited:
1) Cruelly ill-treating, overloading, beating or abusing ANY animal
2) Neglecting any animal under the offender's care(whether he owns the animal or not)
3) ABANDONING ANY ANIMAL
4) DEPRIVING ANY ANIMAL OF FOOD,WATER,SHELTER OR NECESSARY VETERINARY CARE
5) DEPRIVING ANY ANIMAL OF ACCESS TO CLEAN SHELTER SUFFICIENT TO KEEP IT DRY,PROTECT IT FROM BAD WEATHER AND BE ADEQUATE TO PRESERVE IT'S OWN BODY HEAT.

So, with this law in mind, first let me sum up the potential penalties if convicted.

A summary conviction under 5511 involves a fine of not less than $50 or more than $750 and/or imprisionment for not more than 90 days and additionally we can request forfeiture or surrender of the abused animals.
The fines can be added to EACH animal.

So, here's where it stands:

I was not present when the animals were removed, however, I can assure you that these animals were in jepordy and it was in their BEST INTEREST to be relocated since you were not available to care for them. I am in possession of the list of all removed. There were 8 deceased Ball Pythons and 1 deceased Saharan Sand Boa. The following is the assessment of the other problems with some of your snakes.

Several were treated for Mouth Rot and upper respiratory infections, Several were treated for Regurgitation Issues, and several were treated for Anorexia. There were urine and feces all over the floor, we had rats eating other rats(as per witness statements and pictures). There were expenses incurred for medications and transportation. You want to use these animals as colateral against your previous landlords, they can also be used during a sherriff's sale for money owed.

I am willing to come to an agreement regarding this issue, but YOU NEED TO CONTACT ME to try and resolve this situation for EVERYBODY'S best interest. MY concern is only the snakes. If you do not contact me, we can resolve nothing. I can be reached at 610-826-5113 or 610-826-4901.

I await your response.
Donna Crum

I would imagine that if this was a lawsuit issue now, he probably shouldn't be providing all of the court details to the public until after everything is settled...Though I will honestly say I am not familiar with how all that sort of thing works.

 

[shrap]

Rick, all newspapers take on agendas. Pretty much all media outlets period are nothing more than propaganda machines for some entity or another. That dont mean there are not some facts in there.

Now do I blindly believe every word in the newspaper article? Hell no. Do I blindly believe everything I read on CNN or Fox, USA Today, or the nightly news on TV? Hell no. Do I blindly believe every word in the email from Steve? Hell no.

There is still a whole lot more that we dont know at this point. And I would bet my bottom dollar the truth is somewhere in between the two extremes.

 

[1Bob]

I have mixed feelings of having started this thread. I did not do it to rip someone down in a time of trouble. I'm glad somone who was in contact with him was able to provide that info. I am sorry to hear of his situation(s). If anything this thread was able to provide info to those that would have only of read the newspaper article. Maybe the "Bad Guy" can be changed to "Inquiry"

 

[3toe]

i would still buy from Steve

 

[GottaLuvHerps]

i would still buy from Steve

And unless information comes out to prove this article to be completely true (intended animal cruelty for example), he is still welcome as a vendor at my shows...

 

[shrap]

I didn't use the word "complete" in anything I said, Sammy. However, without proof from the OP about his personal experience in regards to the situation...I guess I don't get why Steve was labeled a "bad guy" if it was just based on a newspaper article (which again, can be nothing but sensationalized half truths)? We'll have to agree to disagree on the matter of it being a valid reason to post a negative BOI thread based on what little information was provided. Perhaps "info" would have been more appropriate rather then stamping a "bad guy" on the thread.

I btw, don't personally know Steve...Never met him in person at shows or anything...I just chat with him from time to time on RG (and oggle his BPs )...He seems like a very knowledgeable nice guy.

I dont really care what this thread was labeled. I never said a damn word about that at all and really have no opinion on it at this moment. So I have no idea why you are replying to me about that.

I only commented on the newspaper article itself and your view point that it did not belong on the BOI. Which I still contend is a bunch of horse apples. That article most certainly belongs on the BOI and should be addressed.

If you want to quibble over the thread title like that is the most important issue here then by all means continue do so, but there are other more pressing issues to me at this point.

 

[TattooLost]

Rick, all newspapers take on agendas. Pretty much all media outlets period are nothing more than propaganda machines for some entity or another. That dont mean there are not some facts in there.

Now do I blindly believe every word in the newspaper article? Hell no. Do I blindly believe everything I read on CNN or Fox, USA Today, or the nightly news on TV? Hell no. Do I blindly believe every word in the email from Steve? Hell no.

There is still a whole lot more that we dont know at this point. And I would bet my bottom dollar the truth is somewhere in between the two extremes.

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly Sammy. I know almost all news media outlets are biased in some form or fashion. Seeing that all this happened on July 22nd and is getting headlines now, makes me wonder if he's recently moved ahead with litigation against someone the paper supports.

But as I said, I'm in for the facts. Yes, there may be some sensationalism in the article, but there's usually some facts mixed in. I'm curious to see them come out.

What's that saying about "3 sides to every story?" lol

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

I dont really care what this thread was labeled. I never said a damn word about that at all and really have no opinion on it at this moment. So I have no idea why you are replying to me about that.

If you want to quibble over the thread title like that is the most important issue here then by all means continue do so, but there are other more pressing issues to me at this point.

I responded to you because you falsely stated that I said "a city newspaper is complete hearsay." Perhaps you didn't mean to quote me? My opinion on the matter stands; there's no reason for you to argue with me about my opinion and pull attention away from the issue.

 

[shrap]

I responded to you because you falsely stated that I said "a city newspaper is complete hearsay." Perhaps you didn't mean to quote me? My opinion on the matter stands; there's no reason for you to argue with me about my opinion and pull attention away from the issue.

Are you completely delusional? The article and its validity are the issues here and are what I HAVE been talking about.

Wow.

 

[3toe]

i also forgot to mention that Steves, animals,cages and his personal belongings were taken
before April 21st. which was prior to any type of eviction notice.
fact is hes a stand up guy, who takes care of his animals and his customers!

 

[Ed Clark]

i also forgot to mention that Steves, animals,cages and his personal belongings were taken
before April 21st. which was prior to any type of eviction notice.
fact is hes a stand up guy, who takes care of his animals and his customers!

Steve may be a stand up guy in your eyes, seems that the fact is he abandoned snakes in plastic containers and left them to die, there were snakes roaming at large in a public place of business and he was operating a business without the proper license.

Those appear to be the real facts, I hope Steve will prove this wrong.

 

[TattooLost]

In all honesty, if I was in as big of a bind as Steve states he was in, in his email, I think I would have cut my losses and started trying to sell all those herps well below market value just to try to get ahead or at least stay afloat. Then again, I'm no business major. But if he saw it coming, why did he hook up the generator and try to keep running out of the building knowing the landlord wanted him out? I just don't understand I guess.

 

[jscrick]

I purchased boas from Steve on 2 occaisions. Arrived on 2/20/08 and 3/18/08. They were in excellent health and the shipping and packaging was excellent/very professionally done. Seems to be durring the time Steve had left his animals abandoned for 3 months. This is the first I've heard about all this. The facts I've just related don't support the newspaper story.
Steve is an OK guy and I wouldn't hesitate to buy again from him.

 

[jscrick]

Do need to post my name --
John Crickmer
Austin, TX

 

[LakesideBoas]

In order to remove animals from his facility Steve would have had to have someplace to move them to. Relocating that many animals also takes time.

Steve does not mention an eviction notice just that the landlord was taking him to court (probably for the eviction proceedings). So he may have felt he had some time to do this. Once the electric was disconnected he would have had to provide heat for them somehow. He stated he was using propane heaters in addition to a generator.

The timeline Steve provides that the animals left at the store that had not been relocated was April 16th (when he was arrested and his GF asked to move the animals) to April 21st (the day they came to take the "neglected/abandoned animals). That is five days. Five days that they might not have had their water changed and most likely were put into temporary housing in order to move them. Thus explaining to those of us who care for these animals an explanation for their "sub-standard" housing.

The authorities turned off the generator. I asked Steve if they had turned off the propane heaters also, as if they did, they created the very conditions they came to the "rescue" of: conditions conducive to RI and death to a reptile. He hasn't had a chance to get back to me yet, but if they did turn off the only heat in the building, knowing it was used to house and maintain reptiles I feel that makes the so called authorities entirely culpable for the health situation described in the article.

Would I have done things entirely the way Steve seems to have? I do not know as I have never been in a situation such as that and I wouldn't wish it on anybody.

 

[LakesideBoas]

Also, as for the large Boa being loose in the building, I've had a couple of mine escape from locked enclosures I could have sworn Houdini couldn't get out of so it is entirely within the realm of possibility there was no "neglect" in that instance either.

You notice they do not mention any of the venomous species being loose and I don't know about the laws in that area, but here you must transport all venomous reptiles in a wooden crate (made to certain specifications) even if it' just to the Vets.

 

[Gecko_Den]

In order to remove animals from his facility Steve would have had to have someplace to move them to. Relocating that many animals also takes time.

Steve does not mention an eviction notice just that the landlord was taking him to court (probably for the eviction proceedings). So he may have felt he had some time to do this. Once the electric was disconnected he would have had to provide heat for them somehow. He stated he was using propane heaters in addition to a generator.

The timeline Steve provides that the animals left at the store that had not been relocated was April 16th (when he was arrested and his GF asked to move the animals) to April 21st (the day they came to take the "neglected/abandoned animals). That is five days. Five days that they might not have had their water changed and most likely were put into temporary housing in order to move them. Thus explaining to those of us who care for these animals an explanation for their "sub-standard" housing.

The authorities turned off the generator. I asked Steve if they had turned off the propane heaters also, as if they did, they created the very conditions they came to the "rescue" of: conditions conducive to RI and death to a reptile. He hasn't had a chance to get back to me yet, but if they did turn off the only heat in the building, knowing it was used to house and maintain reptiles I feel that makes the so called authorities entirely culpable for the health situation described in the article.

Would I have done things entirely the way Steve seems to have? I do not know as I have never been in a situation such as that and I wouldn't wish it on anybody.

Really? The authorities are to blame? That's an interesting hypothesis, are they also to blame for his failure to pay taxes, rent, utilities or child support? I don't have anything against Steve, never met him, but seriously while reading his e-mail he blames everyone but himself for his problems.

Removing the other variables and sticking with the 5 days between when his GF "started to move the animals" and when he say's they were "stolen" by his landlord and the authorities, do you think that maybe her top priority should have been getting the animals out that same day? She waited 5 days between starting to remove them and when she found them "stolen"? Knowing they had no electricity, but still left there for 5 days.... And that makes the "authorities entirely culpable " ?

 

[LakesideBoas]

Did I not put a disclaimer of sorts at the end of my post?

I am not Steve, I have no reason to judge him for not paying his taxes, electricity or building rental.

I was trying to point out the way things might have been turned in the article.

If things were so horrid there the local news media would have been there with bells on at the outset.

In 1993 while I was working for the Humane Society we had to "rescue" 106 cats from a house that had been condemned by the health department (it was hardly a rescue, most of the animals were dead or dying). The old lady who lived there was moved to an assisted living facility (and I did not judge her either).

Upon our initial inspection where we determined that we would have to have breathing apparatus dontated for use that day by the local fire department (as no one person could stay in the house longer than 10 minutes even with it) the local news media arrived before we did.

This one waited a year?

Yes, they are culpable if they did turn off the only heat in the building. You don't have to agree with that assessment.

If I create the conditions conducive to causing a percieved problem, I can hardly call it a "rescue" when I liberate those animals from that problem.