A snake handling YouTuber who goes by the name VenomMan20 is in big trouble in Maryland.
Brandon Boyles of Cascade, Md. in Washington County has been charged by Maryland Natural Resources Police with keeping 10 live poisonous snakes with him in a small apartment, where he filmed a number of his videos.
The snakes included two deadly cobras and six rattlesnakes, which are illegal to possess in Maryland although some other states allow them.
Boyles’ neighbors were completely unaware.
“I don’t think it’s very safe,” said resident Nicholas Smith. “It kinda has me a little worried. You’d be afraid to walk around here if one of them got loose.”
Natural Resources Police investigators claim they found lethal snakes in plastic tubs that the reptiles were capable of escaping from.
The remains of two dead cobras were found in Boyles’ freezer and several live snakes were kept in enclosures that were unsanitary and without water, according to court documents.
Boyles was hit with additional charges of animal cruelty.
The venomous snakes were seized and taken to the Catoctin Zoon in Thurmont, Md. for safe-keeping.
Boyles worked at the zoo for several months in 2017, according to Callum Hahn, a co-director at the facility.
PHOTOS: Snake-handling YouTuber busted in Maryland
Boyles was hired to help care for the zoo’s extensive venomous snake collection. He kept five venomous snakes at the zoo along with a crocodile and alligator. Boyles removed his reptiles from the zoo when he resigned.
Boyles left the zoo to concentrate full time on further developing his VenomMan20 YouTube channel.
Boyles has 20,000 followers and four million accumulated views. He also sells VenomMan tee shirts.
Boyles did not respond to WUSA9’s attempts to contact him.
