Former Lakewood Zoo owner reaches plea deal

OCONTO - The former owner of the Lakewood Zoo pleaded no contest to a pair of misdemeanor charges and a pair of civil citations related to charges of illegal possession of animals at the facility.

Casey Ludwig's jury trial had been scheduled for Tuesday in Oconto County court, but a plea deal was reached last week to resolve the criminal and ordinance citation cases.

Ludwig pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of possessing a harmful wild animals. Five other such counts were dismissed. Ludwig also was convicted of two civil ordinance violations of possessing live captive wild animal without a license. Six other violations were dismissed.

Judge Michael Judge fined Ludwig $3,997 and revoked his ability to have a captive wild animal farm permit for two years.

The Lakewood Zoo closed after Ludwig failed to keep and obtain the proper federal, state and local permits. The animals have been sold or shipped to other facilities.