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Snake-biting charges dropped

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 10, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - Charges were dismissed against Cynthia Christensen, the Spring Hill woman accused of biting the head off a snake in May.

The decision marks the second legal victory this year for Christensen. In January, a county judge threw out the case in which Christensen, 46, was charged with driving drunk in her wheelchair. Judge Peyton Hyslop said the case raised questions about fairness and whether a motorized wheelchair constitutes a vehicle under law.

Prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction and dropped the animal cruelty charges against Christensen at a Feb. 22 pretrial hearing.

May 23, 2004, Christensen was charged with beheading the 11/2-foot python after she joined a group of neighbors for a chat and asked to hold the snake her friend purchased for $26.

Authorities alleged that Christensen said she was going to bite off the python's head in front of the group. But before her neighbors knew what happened, the snake's head was missing and blood dripped down Christensen's arm.

At the time, sheriff's deputies called the python's death cruel and unnecessary, but they were not able to find the severed head. Christensen denied the allegations, saying that a pit bull terrier in the neighborhood ate the python's head.

Christensen could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

[Last modified March 10, 2005, 01:14:16]