An American ex-influencer who became the target of angry Australians after holding a baby wombat has been sentenced in the US for a separate incident.
Samantha Strable, 26, who also goes by Sam Jones online, received a suspended 180-day jail term on Thursday after pleading guilty to hunting without a guide in Wyoming, a western US state famous for black bears, elk, and mountain lions.
Following her plea in 2025, prosecutors dismissed seven other charges, including wildlife violations such as taking an animal without a licence during a closed season, and multiple counts of fraud related to her place-of-residence claims.
According to The Herald Sun, the wildlife influencer appeared in Sublette County Circuit Court via video link.
Her lawyer, Nate Jeppsen, said she did not “intend to violate Wyoming game laws” but acknowledged she “should have been aware” of the state’s hunting regulations.
Strable received 12 months’ probation and was fined AU$800 for court fees.
Her case was scheduled for trial, but an 11th-hour agreement was reached between her lawyer and prosecutors.
Wyoming hunting laws specify that a person loses their residency status required for a game and fishing licence if they are out of state for more than 180 days in a calendar year.
However, an affidavit obtained by People reveals that Wyoming Game and Fish Department Game Warden Jacob Miller claimed Strable lived in Wyoming for only about a week in 2024 and one month in 2025, yet she still applied for licences as a resident and hunted in the state.
According to The Herald Sun, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department received an anonymous tip that Strable “continues to buy resident tags even though she hasn’t resided in Wyoming for over two years – and brags about it on social media to over 90k followers”.
The affidavit referenced Strable’s social media activity, cell phone records, employment history, and an interview with her former roommate.
It also noted that the hunter had disputed the Department’s claims about her time spent in Wyoming, saying, “That’s not the case. I was here for way more than that,” and later asking, “Ok, how do you plan on proving that?”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese directly criticised Strable in March last year, calling her an “outrage” after she posted an Instagram clip of herself handling a baby wombat separated from its mother.
The baby wombat was visibly distressed while its mother chased her from the side of the road.
After the public outcry, Strable left Australia following the incident.
She was not charged with any wrongdoing over the incident.