Kansas man pleads guilty in animal seizure case

A northeast Kansas man who kept a tiger and other exotic animals on his property has pleaded guilty to numerous charges.

Matthew Baker was arrested in early May after Atchison County authorities and the Humane Society seized several big cats and other wild animals from his rural property.

KAIR-AM reports Baker pleaded guilty Monday to animal cruelty, failure to comply with USDA regulations and failure to comply with cage regulations. He also pleaded guilty to obstruction and possessing drug paraphernalia that turned up after he became disorderly with officers during the seizure.

Baker will be sentenced July 1 in Atchison County District Court.

The tiger, cougars, bobcats and other animals taken from his property have been sent to sanctuaries around the country.