(Photo: WBOC)CHESTERTOWN, Md. - A Chestertown man recently pleaded guilty to turtle trafficking. Authorities said 57-year-old Michael Johnson was caught purchasing turtles from undercover conservation officers in New York, where the turtles are a protected species.
The 57-year-old Johnson ran a turtle meat processing facility in Millington, Md. It is alleged that in 2007 and 2008 he bought snapping turtles for their meat from people in a variety of states, including New York.
"It's weird, I mean I am not interested myself but you know I think it's very strange," said Pat McRery from Chestertown.
Although it may not be considered a delicacy by some, eating turtle meat in Chestertown is not all that rare.
"Around here we eat eels, we eat all kinds of stuff around here, so I don't think it's strange", said Jennifer Thomas of Rock Hall.
Longtime Chestertown resident Melvin Thornton has been eating turtle meat since he was a child. He said the meat is very versatile.
"Turtle pot-pie, turtle soup, fried turtle, you name it and we used to do all kinds of wonders with turtles," Thornton said.
When asked what turtle meat taste like, the typical response was "chicken."
