Man suspected of painting tortoise red to appear in court

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The man accused of painting an endangered tortoise is scheduled to be in court today. 

Edwin Escalera is facing multiple charges after officers say he dumped red paint into a hole behind his shop in Lake County.

It turns out that where the gopher tortoise was burrowing. Escalera says he didn't know it was down there.

The tortoise is recovering.