Attorney General Curtis Hill believes alleged animal abuser Timothy Stark, director of Wildlife in Need, got the result he wanted Wednesday afternoon when a judge found him in contempt of court. A warrant has now been issued for Stark’s arrest.
Attorney General Hill and his staff have been working this month with Indianapolis Zoo officials and law enforcement to ensure that more than 150 animals are removed from WIN’s Southern Indiana properties. On Sept. 10, the Marion Superior Court appointed the Indianapolis Zoological Society as receiver of the animals and tasked the organization with placing the animals pending a final ruling in the case.
On Monday, the Attorney General filed an emergency motion asking a court to issue a judgment against Stark for allegedly removing and/or concealing animals from authorities. The court gave Stark until 4 p.m. Tuesday to tell authorities the location of all missing animals. Stark did not comply.
WIN’s directors have claimed over the years to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife before returning animals to their native habitats. In reality, Attorney General Hill said, the nonprofit organization has a history of allegations of animal abuse, including failure to provide basic necessities to animals and forcing them to live in deplorable conditions. Many of WIN’s animals have been exotic species native to other countries.
Further, contrary to its stated purpose as a nonprofit corporation, WIN allegedly has misapplied assets purportedly collected for animal care by allowing Stark to misapply WIN's money and assets for his personal uses.
Attorney General Hill sued WIN in February over Stark’s misrepresentations of WIN’s activities. That lawsuit remains pending.
(04-23-2024) Rooney And Shah Slated To Speak At Trine Commencement Ceremonies
(04-23-2024) Four Fires In Fremomt Over Five Days
(04-20-2024) Waterloo Man Drowns While Fishing In Little Turkey Lake
(04-19-2024) March Unemployment In Indiana Unchanged
(04-21-2024) Sturgis Suspect In Home Invasion, Assault Arraigned
(04-18-2024) Former Branch County Priests Not Allowed To Work With Children
(04-18-2024) Michigan’s March Unemployment Unchanged From February
(04-17-2024) LaGrange Foundation Awards LIFE Grants To Youth Programs
(04-16-2024) Coldwater Man Critically Injures An Orland Man In Accident
(04-16-2024) Sturgis Man Being Held On Rape Charge
(04-15-2024) Bronson City Council To Discuss Recreational Marijuana, Again
(04-12-2024) LaGrange Co. Community Foundation Receives Matching Grant
(04-12-2024) LaGrange Man Arrested On Multiple Charges In Mongo
(04-12-2024) Two People Injured In Three Vehicle Crash In Bronson
(04-11-2024) Ford Recalls 43,000 SUV’s Due To Fuel Injector Leaks
(04-11-2024) County Council Agrees On $1M Engineering Project With NIPSCO
(04-11-2024) Insanity Plea Dismissed For Angola Man Facing Murder Charges
(04-10-2024) Trespassing Suspect Allegedly Attempts To Drown SCSD K9
(04-09-2024) LaGrange Co. Council Approves Road Project Funding Request
(04-09-2024) Two Weekend Crashes In Cass County’s Milton Township