Pastor Andrew Hamblin of Tabernacle Church of God in LaFollette, Tenn., was exonerated by a grand jury Wednesday, clearing him of charges related to the possession of illegal deadly snakes deemed by authorities to be dangerous to the public.
Hamblin, 22, who has appeared on National Geographic’s “Snake Salvation,” a reality show about preachers who handle serpents, found himself in legal cross-hairs when the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency cited him in Nov. 2013 for possessing the venomous snakes.
The government stepped in to seize 53 snakes after authorities went to Hamblin’s home and asked if he had any of the deadly animals inside. While the pastor said no, he did admit to housing them at the church....