Janet Turner, 74, the owner of Michigan Trophy Hunts, and her son Scott, 45, who operated the facility, were arraigned Wednesday before Judge Kyle Higgs Tarrant. The Turners were released on a $97,000 personal recognizance bond.

The Turners are charged with 54 counts, including two felony counts of animal cruelty to animals/livestock and conspiracy to commit animal cruelty; and multiple misdemeanor counts of illegal importation of elk into Michigan, failure to maintain animal health records, enclosure violations, animal at large and health code violations.

In March 2008, the Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture launched a joint investigation into the facility after receiving complaints about illegal importation of elk and animal cruelty at the Turner facility. The Law Enforcement Division of the DNR and MDA officials gathered evidence which resulted in a search warrant of the Turner facility to inventory their elk, deer and business records.

The investigation confirmed animals were allegedly smuggled into the state while Michigan's borders were closed to any out-of-state importation of elk and deer. The importation ban was placed on Michigan by the MDA in April 2002 as a result of western states contracting Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Records showed that the Turners had allegedly illegally imported elk from Iowa, Colorado, Minnesota and Canada.

If found guilty, the Turners could each possibly face four years in prison for each felony count of animal cruelty and conspiracy to commit such felonies; $15,000 in fines; up to 500 hours of community service or any combination of penalties. The judge may also order psychiatric evaluations, and may order the cost of care, housing or veterinary care. The judge also may order that the Turners not own or possess an animal. The misdemeanor charges range from 30 to 90 days in jail and fines from $300 to $2,500.