Miami-based shark hunter Mark Quartiano condemned the shark-dragging video on Instagram.
SARASOTA — Wanting the respect of one of Florida’s top shark hunters, the creators of the now infamous shark-dragging video sent their work to Miami-based celebrity shark hunter Capt. Mark “The Shark” Quartiano.
The shark hunter couldn’t believe what he saw and posted it on Instagram, condemning the video.
Now, four months later, that video and many others obtained by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission during a four-month investigation resulted in third-degree felony animal cruelty charges Tuesday against three men — two from Palmetto and one from Bradenton.
Michael Wenzel, 21, of Palmetto, and Robert Lee Benac, 28, of Bradenton, were charged with two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony, and one misdemeanor count of violation of wildlife rules. Spencer Heintz, 23, of Palmetto, was charged with two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
“Although it took a long time, I’m happy to hear something is being done,” Quartiano told the Herald-Tribune Wednesday. “I think that whatever charges against these guys are just: Whether that’s jail time or community service. Whatever it takes to send the message out to other people who are ever thinking of doing something so stupid and cruel to animals is worth it. They need to set an example that this kind of behavior is not to be tolerated.”
Those close to the Wenzel, Benac and Heintz families aren’t happy with the men’s actions.
Juliana Curcio, of Sarasota, who was walking her two dogs at Sarasota's bayfront Wednesday, said she is friends with people who grew up with the three men. They have told her that they are “embarrassed” to know them personally.
“They know their family, and their family are good people,” Curcio said. “It’s disappointing that their son did this, that their friends did this.”
Her initial reaction after she watched the gruesome video was that the men are young.
“This is something that I know that a few of them regret doing,” Curcio said. “So, it’s sad that this is what’s going to happen, but it’s also something that when you do something wrong like this, there is a penalty for doing it. When you take a life, no matter what it is — whether it’s an animal or a person — there’s a consequence to it.
“I was heartbroken. It was awful to watch, to see that anybody could treat something like that.”
Kevin Rouse, a candidate for North Port City Commission seat said he's happy the case is being prosecuted in Hillsborough County.
“It’s better for it to be up in Hillsborough,” Rouse said. “It’s better for it not to be in that municipality. Especially, when one of the suspects, their parents are elected officials in that county. That can cause some issue. There’s a possibility that can cause some issues.”
Rouse, a former marine division firefighter, has worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the past and said he is confident the incident has been properly investigated.
“They know what they’re doing,” Rouse said.
Ashley Tarter, an animal rights advocate who was part of a crowd-sourcing effort that combed through the suspects' social media accounts said some people had begun to give up on the investigation.
There were more than 17,000 people on Facebook pages that supported the FWC investigation, including "Boycott Siesta Key MTV" with 15,700 followers, and more.
Tarter said social media has become a powerful tool to fight crime.
"They get people selling drugs all the time," she said. "Police officers and detectives tell me 'We use social media, so be careful what you post on social media.'"
But, Tarter says, the investigation took too long.
"Investigations do take time, but once I knew it was moved to Hillsborough, I knew it wouldn’t be a conflict," Tarter said. "I knew something was going to happen.
"I honestly didn’t think felony charges."
Tarter, along with about 10 other core members of the page, are planning to be in court if the case goes to trial.