Snake salesman? Miller charged after eight rattlesnakes found in his residence

A Chesterfield resident has been charged with snake possession.

Matthew R. Miller was recently issued nine summonses charging him with possessing a wild or exotic animal – all misdemeanors – in violation of county code. The summonses were dated March 25. He is scheduled to be in Chesterfield General District Court at 9 a.m. June 12.

County animal services director Carrie Jones said Matthew R. Miller, 44, of the 3600 block of Thurston Road, reportedly had nine western diamondback rattlesnakes, but only eight were found after a warrant was issued.

The snakes were seized and transferred to a Richmond resident the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has used in the past, Jones said, adding that it is legal in Richmond to possess such reptiles.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, a county animal services officer found a screenshot of an advertisement that Miller allegedly placed on an online site known as Fauna Classifieds, which is used to list, trade and sell reptiles.