Staff Photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Chuck Hurd waits to be taken into custody on a $10,000 bond in Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Christine Mann Sell’s courtroom Monday after being charged with 48 counts for possession of 12 snakes. The charges included the possession of poisonous snakes in Tennessee, one of which may have bitten Wade Westbrook in East Ridge last week killing him.A snake enthusiast was caged Monday following his hearing on 48 wildlife law violations.
Chuck Hurd, a 38-year-old Virginia resident, originally was released without bond after his Feb. 2 arrest. But Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Christie Mahn Sell ordered Hurd held on $10,000 bond — about $200 per charge — because she said he did not have connections locally.
As of Monday night, Hurd still was in custody at the Hamilton County Jail and could not be reached for comment.
Sell scheduled Hurd’s next hearing for March 30 to give him time to find a lawyer.
A woman who accompanied Hurd to court Monday declined to comment or identify herself after the hearing.