Wisconsin court upholds conviction in snake-in-a-box case
Eric Burrows
MADISON — A state appeals court says a man who sent his ex-girlfriend threatening messages as well as a live python was properly convicted.
Eric Burrows of Elkhart Lake was convicted in January of stalking, unlawful use of a telephone and defamation.
Prosecutors accused him of sending his ex-girlfriend multiple messages asking her to get back together with him as well as accusing her of lying and cheating on him. He sent a box to her apartment complex in August 2016 containing a live ball python with a note that read "Surprise you lying (expletive)."
Burrows argued on appeal authorities lacked probable cause to arrest him. The 2nd District Court of Appeals disagreed, ruling Wednesday that the evidence more than supported an arrest.
Burrows' attorney didn't immediately return a message.