AN INFLUENCER who snatched a baby wombat away from its mother has been slapped with a jail sentence over hunting violations.

Samantha Strable, 26, appeared in a US court this week where she pleaded no contest to hunting without a guide.

Mugshot of a young woman with long wavy brown hair, blue eyes, and a nose ring.Strable appeared in US court this week Credit: Unknown A young woman with a rifle poses with a large dead deer.The influencer has made a career out of hunting wild animals Credit: Instagram / samstrays_somewhere

The influencer was cleared of seven other charges against her, including taking an animal without a licence or during a closed season and several counts of fraud or false swearing.

She received 12 months probation, as well as a suspended sentence of 180 days in jail.

She was also ordered to pay $800 in fines and court fees for violating Wyoming’s fish and game legislation.

Her lawyer, Nate Jeppsen, was able to reach an agreement with prosecutors as he said the influencer wasn’t “intentionally trying to violate” the law.

Last year 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 [her] 90,000 followers.”

In November 2025, Strable was arrested by the Sublette County Sheriff’s for falsely claiming Wyoming residency to obtain hunting permits.

A young woman holding a wombat at night.Footage shows Strable carrying the scared wombat Credit: Instagram / samstrays_somewhere A young girl in a dress holding a large animal by its legs on a dark road at night.The wombat’s mother chased after the influencer Credit: Instagram / samstrays_somewhere

Court evidence alleged that Strable spent only a week in Wyoming in 2024 and a month in 2025.

Under Wyoming hunting law, residents lose their residency status if they spend 180 days living out of state.

She strongly denied the claims and stated that she lived in Wyoming for “way more than that.”

Strable, who goes by Sam Jones online, sparked controversy last year with a .

The video shows Strable kidnapping a distressed baby wombat as its terrified mother chases after her.

The horrifying video upset millions of Australians, even catching the attention of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

He said: “I would suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals, take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there,

“Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother – see how you go then.”

Over 50,000 people signed a Change.org petition to ban Strable from Australia before it was closed.

She received further backlash for her strange apology, accusing Australians of hypocrisy and putting her in danger.

She said: “Am I a villain?

“Things, dear reader, are not as they seem – over holding a wombat, thousands threaten my life.”

She soon apologised for her actions, claiming she “wanted to help the wombat cross the road.”

Strable left Australia soon after the scandal.