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No international travel for charged reptile collector Cullen

A Milwaukee reptile collector facing charges of sexual assault and improper storage of animals won't be visiting southeast Asia and South Africa until he can provide more detail about such trips, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Terry Cullen was charged in May 2010, but his case has moved very slowly, as the defense litigates numerous issues.

On Wednesday, he was before Circuit Judge David Borowski on a request to travel abroad. Cullen's attorney, Lew Wasserman, indicated that despite the pending criminal charges, Cullen remains a leading expert on crocodilians, and gets asked to speak or get involved with reptile rescues around the world.

But since his passport was seized upon his arrest last year, it has expired. He has applied for a new one, but since he doesn't yet have it, or know with certainty when it will arrive, Wasserman said, it has been hard for Cullen to make the kinds of specific travel arrangements and itineraries both the prosecutor and Borowski said would be required before the request would merit serious consideration.

Assistant District Attorney Sara Lewis said she would like oppose Cullen's travel abroad even if he could provide detailed itineraries. She said any of Cullen's numerous contacts in the international crocodilian community could decide to harbor him if he decided to skip facing trial on the criminal charges here.

Borowski said he would reconsider Cullen's travel request if and when he obtains a passport and can explain exactly where he wants to go, when, and why.

Borowski also granted a stay of the rest of the case, pending an appeal by Cullen over the validity of the search warrants that led to discovery of the hundreds of snakes, crocodiles, turtles and other creatures at two properties Cullen controlled in Milwaukee.
www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/130302053.html

How can one of the leading experts in a field that is as limited as croc knowledge, be charged with improper care of crocs.
The people charging him NO NOTHING about crocs.
There probably isn't 5 people in the world with more knowledge about croc husbandry and vet care than Terry Cullen.
Terry Cullen should be the one writing the laws on how to take care of crocs. NO ONE who works for USFWS, MADDOC, MPD, or the MDA's office can tell Terry Cullen the first thing about crocs.
Most of the AZA zoos in the country have asked for advice FROM Terry Cullen. Terry Cullen invented the AZA croc school to further educate fledgling croc keepers.
In my mind if Terry Cullen says this is the best way to keep this animal then it is the best way. Did any of these agencies
inquire about the hx of any of these animals. Every animal is different especially when kept for long periods in captivity.
In fact a lot of "problem" crocs in Terry's possesion came from AZA facilities.
Right now the Reptile Nation is so emboiled with this ridiculous
fight with the govt that we have allowed a truly remarkable man
to be crucified.
I do educational reptile shows. 75% of my income is earned out of my home state of TX. So the python law will affect me more than most. And I support python breeders. But truthfully I'm not a big conservationist. And python breeders are'nt either.
Terry Cullen is a croc conservationist. He is involved in croc conservation all over the world. If you love crocs he is one of the good guys.
I have'nt seen one word in defense from USARK I have'nt seen one volunteer auction from Kingsnake.
We're afraid, I get it. Guilty by association.
What if they come to my house?
It's shameful. D.C.

It makes me wonder if there is much hope long term for anyone in this hobby. "Divided we fall", and we are as a "community" (exotics hobbyists/breeders, reptile hobbyists/breeders), at least from what I can see, extraordinarily divided.

USARK is a Trade Association. We advocate at the federal, state and local level for the responsible ownership and trade of reptiles and amphibians. We are not attorneys and don't give legal advice. We are not a legal defense fund and don't fund personal legal battles. We do give legal references and help members find attorneys when necessary. I believe that Mr. Cullen has an attorney. He never requested that we refer one to him. Again I want to emphasize that USARK is a Trade Association and we do not get involved with personal legal proceedings. We are limited in the types of assistance we can lend to individuals. We are not organized or qualified to give legal advice or raise funds for personal legal proceedings.
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USARK