An American social media influencer, Samantha Strable, is currently embroiled in legal issues stemming from allegations of improperly acquiring hunting licences in Wyoming. Her case draws media attention not only due to her controversial actions but also because she previously gained notoriety in 2025 for a viral incident involving a baby wombat.
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Documents seen by PEOPLE indicate that Strable, who sometimes uses the alias Sam Jones, allegedly misrepresented her residency status in Wyoming. The state’s hunting regulations require individuals to maintain their residency by not being outside of the state for more than 180 days within a calendar year. According to Wyoming Game and Fish Department Game Warden Jacob Miller, Strable spent only one week living in the state in 2024 and roughly one month in 2025, yet applied for and obtained hunting licences as though she was a resident.
The allegations are supported by a variety of sources, including social media activities, cell phone records, and testimony from a former roommate. Strable has reportedly contested these claims, insisting, “That’s not the case. I was here for way more than that,” and challenged investigators by asking, “Ok, how do you plan on proving that?”
Strable faces a total of eight charges, which include six counts of false swearing or fraud as well as other violations concerning hunting regulations. Specifically, the charges consist of one count of taking a game animal without a licence and another for hunting as a non-resident without the requisite guide.
On November 21, Strable was booked into the Sublette County Detention Centre but was released later that same day. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office confirmed her detention but did not provide further details regarding the nature of the allegations.
The upcoming trial, which is set to commence on June 27, is expected to last for three days. A representative from the Sublette County Circuit Court confirmed the trial date to PEOPLE, indicating that it will be closely monitored by media outlets given Strable’s social media fame.
Strable’s previous run-in with the law involved an incident that occurred while she was in Australia. In a now-deleted video, she was seen taking a baby wombat from its mother on a dark road, an act that sparked widespread outrage, including condemnation from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who labelled the incident as “an outrage.”
While her attorney has refrained from making any public comments regarding the current charges, Strable’s past actions continue to raise eyebrows and question the ethics surrounding social media influencers and their responsibilities.
As the trial approaches, attention will likely focus on the intersection of social media fame and legal accountability, as well as the implications of Strable’s alleged infractions against Wyoming’s hunting laws. Whether her previous notoriety will influence public perception during the trial remains to be seen.