Charges: 3 Men Found With Over 2K Pounds Of Turtle Meat In Off Season
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Three Frazee men are facing wildlife violation charges after they were found to have turtle meat in their possession during the off-season.
Kevin R. Ketter, 54, Jordan M. Ketter, 21 and Darwin D. Bartel, 54, have all been charged with possessing snapping turtles during a closed season.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, on June 29 DNR officers conducted a search of Ketter's Meat Market and found 23 live snapping turtles, 243 snapping turtle shells and 2,910 pounds of turtle meat.
Further investigation found that these turtles had been taken during the closed season, which in Minnesota is May and June, and were being held and sold by Ketter's Meat Market.
Each man has been charged with a misdemeanor. If found guilty, they face a sentence of 90 days in jail, a maximum fine of $1,000 or both.