Couple admit illegal import of sugar glider

| 11/01/2018 | 79 Comments
Cayman News Service

Jimel McLean

(CNS): Jimel McLean and Sabrina Walton, who were both charged with importing a live animal without a licence, pleaded guilty Thursday and were bailed until a sentence hearing next month. In one of the first prosecutions of its kind, the couple attempted to bring a sugar glider into Cayman from the US last summer. But they were caught when the small furry possum escaped from its hiding place in their clothing and caused a stir aboard a Cayman Airways flight from Miami. 

The case has attracted considerable public attention and fuelled concerns because of the dangers to the local environment associated with the importation of invasive species.

McLean and Walton have admitted one count of importing a live animal without a licence. McLean, who is the son of East End MLA Arden McLean, has also admitted importing a biological product without a licence.

Tags: ,

Category: Courts, Crime

Comments (79)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Would have been an idiot like him who brought the green iguana here too as an “exotic pet” .

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  2. Anonymous says:

    Hey cute animal, what’s that idiot stuck to your ass?

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  3. Anonymous says:

    I believe the law applies to all. Let justice take its course.

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    • Anonymous says:

      In Cayman its no true justice. Its who knows you, connections all the way, corruption thats the word.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Just inforce the laws !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  5. Anonymous says:

    It would be a change for school children to visit an exotic zoo as a field trip rather than the usual cows and goats on Ash Wednesday.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I’m sure Australians love going to the zoo and petting rabbits.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Students need only step outside and they are in an exotic zoo. It’s called iguana park. Bought to you by idiots like this guy.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    That’s my boy!

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  7. Anonymous says:

    I’m more concerned about white powder, explosives, weapons and illegal human trafficking than a bloody 8 inch tall animal for gods sake.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    I remember about 9 years ago the wife of a big shipping family on the island snuck 2 little maltese puppies onto the island via a private jet. I remember a member of her family trying to tell me that she had gone through all of the necessary protocols in order to legally bring the puppies in. Having just brought in a dog properly from the US I was quite aware of what was required. Also, the little puppies were only 12 weeks old so I knew that they were not old enough to have had all of the necessary shots and blood work required to be approved by the DoA.
    It was quite disheartening to me to know that she had risked two little puppies for her own selfishness as the DoA does reserve the right to put the animals to sleep. Luckily she was never caught – not that I care about her, it was the dogs that I was concerned about!
    About two years, maybe a bit less, she ended up getting rid of the dogs. Too much work for her!

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  9. Eat your heart out says:

    Only God know what else was brought in before by these individuals! SMH…

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Picture says it all. Can’t fix stupid!

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  11. Anonymous says:

    I am made to understand Jimel has other exotic animals at home or hiding them in the bushes. Has Jimel house and surrounding been thoroughly searched? He and his lover are very clever when it comes hiding animals and bringing them in the country illegally. The Court needs to make an example out of them to hopefully prevent other illegal importers of animals. Let us see…..

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Is this the same son as McLean has been pressuring CIG to employ as a police helicopter pilot?

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  13. Anonymous says:

    they are going to get away with paying next to nothing in a fine and no jail time… teaching everyone that you can get away with this stuff if you have the right daddy.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I’d wager that would be the case with or w/o that daddy. Cayman laws do not protect our environment or animals of any kind.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Lets face it, the Cayman Government’s only interest, is in protecting the bank balances of the MLAs and they have zero interest in protecting the environment (unless they were able to make money out of it!)
        The Planning Department pose a far greater risk to the environment than two stupid idiot Caymanians and a small furry animal!

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      • Diogenes says:

        It’s true even if the wasn’t the son of an MLA the maximum jail time for this offence is 6 months in prison

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      • Anonymous says:

        Maybe cuz his daddy is one of the country’s ‘lawmakers’

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    • Penny L Gunter says:

      I’m curious about what kind of damage, a sugar glider, a single sugar glider, could cause to the environment? Or are they throwing it on exotic animal ban just because they are in fact, exotic.

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      • John says:

        Sugar gliders carry lepto, which can also be passed onto humans. Theyalso carry many other infectious diseases. If the sugar glider was to interact with other local animals that do not have immunity to some of the diseases or infections then that could quickly spread through a native population and wipe them out. This is why all animals, not just exotics, must go through all of the proper veterinary exams and receive treatments and vaccinations.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Riiiight. Cuz exotic dancers never proven to harm the environment

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      • "Anonymousir" says:

        if its illegal, its illegal! … what kind of damage would an illegal anaconda do? dunno, probably eat you and the sugar glider … IF we dont have certain animals here, can we leave them where they are? see where the “exotic” green iguana has gotten us …. THINK! FOOLS! (if its illegal, its illegal!)

    • Anonymous says:

      Just the same way the some expect to get off from DUI.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Ha, let’s hear Arden rant about HIS Caymanian attempting to destroy HIS island and it’s fragile ecosystem instead of some diabolical foreigner.
    Hypocrisy at its Cayman fines

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    • Anonymous says:

      If you can’t blame the son for the sins of the father, can you blame the father for the sins of the son?

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  15. Bobo says:

    What does eat iguanas?

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  16. Anonymous says:

    While on the subject of island animals, has the green iguana ever been part of the menu? Like turtle stew? Just curious. Or is there just no way to prepare it in a palpable way?
    Jerk, fried, stew, smoked, etc??

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    • Anonymous says:

      Check Tukka. Its called Tree Chicken.
      Bet sugar glider tastes pretty good too.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Smoked on a cedar plank is best for iguana!

      Recipe as follows:

      -skin your lizard
      -rub it with coconut oil until tender
      -season it with black pepper and salt
      -place some orange slices on the cedar plan
      -place the lizard on the plank
      -place cedar plank on the grill
      -cook for 1 hour
      -throw the lizard away
      -eat the cedar plank

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  17. Anonymous says:

    And the biological product is???

  18. Anonymous says:

    It’s a form of terrorism.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    This is a test case for the people will be watching. Knowledge and intentional Illegal importation of non native species can raise hell with the local ecosystem. Maybe the next people will want to raise pythons and see this couple get a slap on the wrist so what havoc could pythons raise in Cayman?
    These sugar gliders are known to wipe out the parrot population in other countries.
    I may be a dreamer believing justice will be done but I know better.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The word you are looking for is “precedent” not test case, if you are going to try to comment your legal analysis at least use the jargon or terminology

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  20. Anonymous says:

    And yet again, innocent animals suffer from the actions of asshole human beings.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    CNS the picture does not show a sugar glider on Mr. McLean’s shoulder. Rather it is a marmoset. I wonder where and when that picture was taken? Any embedded data as to the date it were taken? Just askin?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah, that’s just another illegal animal he imported!!!

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      • Anonymous says:

        There’s also a bearded dragon dealer on island. Like we need anymore invasive reptiles!

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        • Anonymous says:

          Seriously?! – A man who can sell me a dragon? That’s amazing, I’d definitely buy one from him regardless of whether he has a beard or not.

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          • Anonymous says:

            I am Daenerys of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Lady Regnant of the Seven Kingdoms, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons

            Come to me for all your (bearded) dragon needs

    • Anonymous says:

      I thought the same thing when they first posted that pic with the story. They did find other illegal pets at his home but have never elaborated.
      I’ll bet he’s still got it and others.

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  22. Tut alors!. says:

    Do they eat iguanas?.

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    • Diogenes says:

      Nope they actually are a danger to bird species ( like our Native parrot)

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      • Jotnar says:

        Bit like Ezzard, who wanted to put a bounty on parrots because they ate mangos.

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        • Anonymous says:

          HIS MANGOES!!!!!!

        • Anonymous says:

          I’d rather the parrots eat my mangoes for 3 main reasons:

          1) Less food for the rats (They climb the trees and eat the mangoes and they eat the fallen mangoes spoiled or not)
          2) I can’t eat them all anyway, I’d have to spend the whole summer outside picking mangoes (not to mention the explosive result of eating too many mangoes)
          3) I’d rather the parrots eat some of my mangoes than go extinct because they are beautiful birds

  23. Diogenes says:

    Slap on the wrist incoming
    Diogenes

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Poor little guy (the sugar glider.) RIP

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