Stanhope Locker felony trial canceled. The case may be dismissed after one-year probation.

Stanhope-The trial for a Hamilton County meat locker facing felony charges has been cancelled with the prosecution being deferred  for one year’s probation. Stanhope Locker owner 43-year-old Wesley Zanker is accused of  mislabeling meat and selling it to a Boone County restaurant for several years. Zanker was charged with ongoing criminal conduct and first-degree fraudulent practice . The  trial was initially delayed to late August. An investigation by the Iowa Meat and Poultry Inspection Bureau and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Stanhope Locker allegedly and repeatedly produced and shipped mislabeled meat products to the Whatcha Smokin BBQ and Brew in rural Luther between 2021 and 2023. This past Monday,August 11th , the state of Iowa and Zanker entered into a deferred  prosecution agreement  which cancelled the jury trial. The charges for Zanker will be dismissed if he does not have any violations in the next year. Zanker must abide by Iowa Code for the Meat and Poultry Inspection Act during the one-year probationary period. In addition Zanker cannot have any criminal convictions during the probationary period or any extension thereof. Simple traffic misdemeanors will not count as a violation