Woman pleads guilty to killing Gila monster with screwdriver

Published: Aug. 18, 2016 at 7:07 PM MST|Updated: Aug. 19, 2016 at 12:29 AM MST
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TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - The woman accused killing a Gila monster with a screwdriver earlier this year has pleaded guilty and received her sentence.

Sarah Crabtree pleaded guilty to taking wildlife without a license and possession of restricted wildlife in Pima County's Animal Welfare Court Thursday.

Crabtree, who posted photos of the dead Gila monster on Facebook, was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation, fined $400 and ordered to attend counseling and a hunter's education class.

The judge said Crabtree faces 100 days in jail if she fails to complete the required sentencing steps.

Crabtree's attorney said she killed the Gila monster because she was afraid of what it would do to her animals and children.

Gila monsters, the only venomous lizard in North America, are nearly endangered. They are federally protected, making it illegal to capture or kill one in Arizona. Wildlife officials said Gila monsters are generally harmless unless people get too close.

Crabtree's Facebook post went viral quickly and sparked outrage across the area. The photos, which appeared on Monday, March 28, came with the caption "this is the end result for the gila monster. A screw driver in the head."

"It was just disgusting," said Sandy Manning, one of the people who shared Crabtree's post.

Mark Hart, spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, told KOLD News 13 he was appalled when he saw the picture.

"To impale it with a screwdriver, seemed cruel and unusual for us," Hart said.Wildlife officials also said they are generally harmless unless people get too close.

AZGFD officials said if you come across a Gila monster near your home, grab a garden hose to spray it or call a wildlife removal team.

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