WILLIAMSPORT (AP) — A Pennsylvania man charged with illegally catching and trying to sell eastern timber rattlesnakes is in critical condition after being bitten by snakes hours after his scheduled court hearing was delayed.

A spokesman with the state Fish and Boat Commission says Cody Short was bitten by eastern timber rattlesnakes Friday night. PennLive.com says that was hours after the delay of his scheduled guilty plea to charges related to the illegal capture and sale of rattlesnakes.

He was in critical condition at a hospital on Tuesday. A call to his lawyer on Wednesday wasn’t returned.

Short was arrested last summer after he agreed to sell 11 snakes to an undercover agent for $900. He had 22 rattlesnakes at his property near Williamsport.

In February, Short told Pennlive he’s ashamed, and said he caught the snakes to eat them at his 40th birthday party.

–––

Information from: Pennlive.com, http://www.pennlive.com