Van Hollen Announces Appeal in Waupaca County Animal Mistreatment Case

MADISON - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that the Wisconsin Department of Justice will be seeking appellate review of two decisions recently entered in Waupaca County Circuit Court. 

Robby and Rory Kuenzi were charged with multiple counts of felony animal mistreatment stemming from allegedly corralling and running down deer while riding snowmobiles in the town of Lind.  Waupaca County Circuit Court Judge Kirk and Judge Hoffman dismissed the animal mistreatment charges against the brothers, concluding that because the District Attorney's Office had also charged the defendants with hunting violations, the statutes precluded prosecution for animal mistreatment. 

Van Hollen stated, "We intend to pursue an appeal of the judges' decisions because we believe the court erred in its interpretation of the relevant statutes."  Because this case is in a pretrial posture, the defendants are presumed innocent.