A woman who gained online fame earlier this year has been arrested after a video surfaced showing her removing a baby wombat from its mother.
A creator hailing from Montana became a target of Australian ire earlier this year following a video that quickly gained traction on social media.
The 25-year-old, Sam Jones, uploaded a video of herself chuckling while picking up a baby wombat and running from its mother towards her car.
Tragically, the mother wombat is seen desperately pursuing her offspring just moments later.
Jones, who also uses the name Samantha Strable, held the distressed animal up to the camera, smiling as she declared, ‘I caught a baby wombat’.
Eventually, she released the wombat as it began to hiss, indicating its distress.
She commented: “OK, mom is right there…and she is p**sed. Alright, let’s let him go.”
This incident sparked outrage online, with many demanding Strable’s arrest, though they were disappointed to find she had already left the country.
The self-proclaimed ‘wildlife biologist and environmental scientist’ departed at a time when officials stated she was no longer welcome to return.
However, the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office in Pinedale, Wyoming, has now confirmed Strable’s arrest.
The police department released a list of arrests for the week spanning November 17 to November 24, with her name included.
On their website, Strable’s mugshot was displayed, accompanied by the information: “Samantha Strable of Pinedale Wyoming was booked on November 21st for False Swearing x6, taking wildlife without a license and non-resident hunting without a guide.”
According to state court documents, Strable had allegedly misrepresented herself as a state resident to obtain hunting tags or permits.
Despite claims of living in Pinedale, the influencer is believed to reside in Great Falls, Montana.
Wyoming Game and Fish Warden Jacob Miller also disclosed that her resident hunter status was rescinded as she hadn’t resided in Wyoming for a sufficient period.
State law requires individuals to live in Wyoming for an entire year before applying for residential hunting licenses, with the status revoked if absent from the state for over 180 days or if they abandon their home.
Miller received a tip on 11 August, alleging that Strable was continuing to purchase resident tags despite not living in the state for more than two years.
Strable may now face up to a year in jail and a fine ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 for each charge she faces.