STANHOPE — The owner of a Hamilton County meat locker maintains his innocence as he faces felony charges for allegedly selling mislabeled meat to a central Iowa restaurant.

According to court documents, Wesley Zanker, 46, owner of the Stanhope Locker, has been charged with ongoing criminal conduct, a class B felony, and first-degree fraudulent practice, a Class C felony, for allegedly selling unlabeled meat to Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ + Brew in Luther.

“Our client, Wesley Zanker, has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges brought against him,” said Grant Gangestad, Zanker’s attorney. “He firmly maintains his innocence. This case is still in its early stages, and the discovery process will provide a full picture of the facts. Mr. Zanker and Stanhope Locker have served their community with integrity for years and are committed to providing the highest quality products to the customers they proudly serve. We trust that the judicial process will fairly evaluate the allegations. We look forward to presenting our case in court and ask that the public refrain from drawing conclusions until all evidence is properly examined.”

According to the criminal complaints filed in Hamilton County District Court, on 37 occasions from October 2021 through August 2023, Zanker and the Stanhope Locker produced and sold 6,894.6 pounds of cooked ring bologna at the cost of $49,478.22 to Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ + Brew. Court documents state that Zanker sold the meat without proper labeling for more than two years.

“By Mr. Zanker’s own admission, (he) admitted to applying required label produced identification to one half of the shipments, rendering this product misbranded by Iowa Code,” read the court documents.

In a statement, Whatcha Smokin’ owner Gwen Page said “Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ + Brew takes pride in providing only the best quality products and services for our guests. We have ceased serving Stanhope products and appreciate everyone’s support of our hard working team.”

According to court records, a jury trial has been scheduled to begin on June 17 in Hamilton County District Court.