Two charged with felony after reportedly taking Venus flytraps from N.C. plantation

Two men were charged with felony taking of Venus flytraps and 149 counts of taking of certain wild plants, along with trespassing, after plants were taken from a North Carolina plantation property.

Scottie Stevens, 44, and Davis Lewis, 24, were charged with taking plants and second-degree trespassing, according to Emily Flax, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

The plants were taken Saturday from the Orton Plantation in Winnabow, N.C., which is a historic site.

The men were arrested after authorities searched backpacks they were carrying, which allegedly contained the plants, Flax said.

Taking of a Venus Flytrap is considered a felony, according to statue 14-129.3 of North Carolina law, which states:

“Any person, firm, or corporation who digs up, pulls up, takes, or carries away, or aids in taking or carrying away, any Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) plant or the seed of any Venus flytrap plant growing upon the lands of another person, or from the public domain, with the intent to steal the Venus flytrap plant or seed is guilty of a Class H felony.”

Stevens and Lewis are being held at the Brunswick County Detention Facility on $1 million bonds, Flax said

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 10:42 AM with the headline "Two charged with felony after reportedly taking Venus flytraps from N.C. plantation."