A Michigan man could face time in jail after putting a six foot boa constrictor in his mailbox.
31 year old James R. Mell, from the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, said, "It was an incredibly stupid practical joke that wasn't funny."
According to the Detroit News, Mell stated that he put the boa constrictor in his mailbox on July 7 to startle the postal carrier.
Federal prosecutors charged Mell with with obstructing the delivery of the U.S. mail on Monday. The charge brings a penalty of up to six months in prison.
Court records showed that postal carrier Nakeema Anderson was making her rounds when she faced the snake after opening Mell's mailbox.
Mell wrote a letter apologizing to Anderson and said he hoped that would settle the matter.
Mell said, "It was something stupid that a 10-year-old would do, and I'm sorry."
