A former park manager who lived on-site and a onetime intern at Gator Country are now facing burglary charges, accused of breaking into the snake-housing area at the Fannett reptile park and making off with several animals to sell. Edward Hanhart, 22, and Charles Holder, 23, are each charged with burglary of a building in connection with the alleged theft, according to park owner Gary Saurage.
Surveillance Video Allegedly Shows the Break-In
According to KBTV Fox 4 Beaumont, Saurage shared surveillance footage that he says shows Hanhart and Holder breaking into the section of the park that houses snakes on July 24. Saurage said the pair took at least five non-venomous snakes from the enclosure area. Hanhart had worked at Gator Country for years, most recently as a park manager who lived on the property, while Holder was a former intern at the park, the station reports.
Saurage told the station he believes the two intended to sell the snakes after taking them. He said five of the stolen animals were returned the next day. Gator Country, located in Fannett, is known locally for its alligator exhibits alongside other reptiles.
Arrests Came Four Days Apart
Charles Holder was arrested in Brazoria County on November 6, 2026, and Edward Hanhart surrendered in Jefferson County on November 10, 2026, four days later. No additional law-enforcement statement, court filing, or comment from either accused man was included in the account.
Burglary of a building, the charge both men face, is addressed under Texas law covering unlawful entry. An excerpt of Texas Penal Code Chapter 30 states that a person commits the offense if, without the owner's effective consent, they enter a habitation or a building not then open to the public with intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault.
Park Says It Remains Open Despite the Incident
Gator Country says it continues to operate daily and remains focused on serving customers despite the setback, the station's report notes. Beyond Saurage's account of the alleged break-in and the two arrests, no information about bail amounts, upcoming court dates, or potential penalties for Hanhart or Holder has been made public.
