The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man on Monday for allegedly harvesting an endangered plant without a permit.
Johnny Powers told deputies he was picking berries in south Punta Gorda, but said he did not have a Native Plant Harvesting Permit to pick the Saw Palmetto Berries.
Powers had already picked nearly 20 pounds of berries- he is now charged with Petit Theft and Harvesting an Endangered Plant without a Permit.