Man accused of housing reptiles to leave country

A Milwaukee man charged with sexual assault, false imprisonment and a dozen counts of mistreating animals is being allowed to leave the country to attend a reptile conference.

Terry Cullen, 62, was investigated in May 2010 after an Illinois woman accused him of sexual assault in February of that year. The criminal complaint states that a woman was promised an internship with Cullen, who claimed he was an expert on reptiles. The woman said Cullen sexually assaulted her in his home near 13th Street and Lincoln Avenue before driving her home the next day.


According to the 2010 criminal complaint, a search warrant served on two residences following the assault allegation turned up more than 200 animals, "most of which were exotic reptiles not native to Wisconsin, and a number of which were protected or endangered species under federal or state law."

Cullen is expected to agree to a plea deal next month in the case, and while he is currently free on $10,000 bail a judge has granted him the privilege of leaving the country this weekend.

Cullen is scheduled to head to the Philippines for a Crocodile Specialists Group convention. Court documents show that Cullen's attorney requested permission for his client to travel, saying the travel arrangements were pre-paid.

"Mr. Cullen needs to know that he is able to travel A.S.A.P. as he will lose the airfare, hotel and seminar costs if he does not travel," Cullen's attorney, Michael Maistelman, told the judge.


Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Sara Lewis objected to the overseas trip, saying "I have a standing objection to Mr. Cullen -- or quite frankly any defendant in a felony criminal case -- traveling abroad while the case is pending."


The judge in the case agreed to allow Cullen to leave the country for 10 days beginning Friday.


Cullen is scheduled to leave Friday, and he is scheduled to speak to the group while in Manila.


When asked for a comment, Maistelman told WISN 12 News, "I'm not inclined to make any comments while the case is being litigated."
www.wisn.com/news/south-east-wisconsin/milwaukee/Man-accused-of-housing-reptiles-to-leave-country/-/10148890/13407352/-/vhn2fez/-/

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