Kostreva makes initial court appearance

OCONTO - A 50-year-old Oconto County man charged with mistreatment of animals in connection with the poisoning of hundreds of wild turkeys earlier this year, is free on a $5,000 signature bond.

Mark Kostreva of Pound made his initial appearance in court Tuesday morning. Kostreva has been charged with three counts of mistreatment of animals causing death. Each count carries a maximum penalty of three and a half years in prison.

According to the criminal complaint, Kostreva told investigators he had repeated problems with turkeys eating the feed on his farm, so he mixed antifreeze with corn and placed it out for the turkeys. He also apologized to the DNR warden, saying he likes wildlife and knew what he did was wrong.

Oconto County District Attorney Jay Conley said Kostreva was charged for the deaths of three birds on which a necropsy – similar to an autopsy – was performed, but the total number of birds involved made the case rise to the level of a felony. Test results showed the birds were indeed poisoned.

Kostreva's preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 19.