Owl thieves rethink plea, protest fine

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A two-day trial is scheduled to begin October 2 for two teens accused of breaking into a cage and stealing a popular owl from a wildlife rehab center in Waukesha County.

Dilan White, 18, of Dousman considered a plea deal before learning that prosecutors wanted him and Matthew Kuhlemeyer to pay $22,000 in restitution. White’s attorney, Paul Bucher, called the request “absurd.”

The amount includes compensation for the time volunteers spent in searching for Dakota, the great-horned owl. He was stolen last November from the Wildlife-in-Need Center near Oconomowoc.

The owl was gone for several weeks before being found on a nearby porch in poor health.

Bucher said he wanted to resolve the restitution dispute before proceeding with a trial. The judge in the case said both sides could only take an hour to discuss it – otherwise, they’ll have to wait until a sentencing hearing if one needs to be scheduled.

White and Kuhlmeyer are both charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor criminal damage. A final pre-trial hearing is set for September 27.

Tags: crime, outdoors, wisconsin, courts