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Tenn. Pastor from snake TV show charged with assault, endangerment

nationalgeographic.com/snake-salvation/

  

LAFOLLETTE

, Tenn. (AP) — An East Tennessee pastor who has appeared on a reality television show about handling snakes in church faces charges of assault and reckless endangerment.

Media outlets report that the charges against Andrew Hamblin stem from a domestic disturbance Sunday at a residence in Campbell County. No one was injured.

Hamblin is the pastor of the Tabernacle Church of God in LaFollette, which uses snake handling in services. He has appeared on the reality show "Snake Salvation" on the National Geographic Channel.

In 2013, state wildlife officials seized 53 copper heads and rattlesnakes from Hamblin and cited him for illegally keeping them, but a grand jury declined to indict him.

Hamblin was due in court for arraignment Monday. It wasn't immediately clear whether he had an attorney to reach for comment.