Victory! PETA Wins Lawsuit Against Roadside Zoo Attorney Behind Witness Intimidation Plot

For Immediate Release:
June 18, 2026

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County has ruled in favor of PETA in its lawsuit against Nevin Young, the Maryland-based attorney for the now-defunct Tri-State Zoological Park, ordering him to pay PETA $20,000, plus interest, for failing to comply with a settlement agreement stemming from sanctions awarded based on his role in a scheme to silence two witnesses during PETA’s Endangered Species Act lawsuit against the roadside zoo, from which dozens of neglected animals were ultimately rescued. Delivering his ruling from the bench, Judge Sidney Butcher noted that Young’s testimony “does not make sense” and added, “I do not find Mr. Young very credible.” Young stormed out of the courtroom before Judge Butcher could dismiss the parties. The award will go toward PETA’s work on behalf of animals in other roadside zoos.

During PETA’s lawsuit against Tri-State over violations of the federal Endangered Species Act, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland found that Young assisted the roadside zoo’s owner, Robert Candy, with filing baseless felony wiretap charges against two PETA investigators—critical witnesses in the case—just days before they were set to testify. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland later ordered Candy and Young to pay PETA $56,655.77 in sanctions over the scheme. But under a settlement with PETA, Young agreed to volunteer at a local animal shelter or pay PETA $20,000—but then refused to do either, as established at trial.

“Nevin Young was caught red-handed attempting to undermine PETA’s efforts to protect animals languishing in filth, misery, and pain, then refused to honor the settlement he agreed to,” says PETA General Counsel, Litigation, Asher Smith. “PETA looks forward to collecting its due, which will assist its efforts to ensure that no other animal suffers at sleazy roadside zoos like Tri-State Zoological Park.”

PETA prevailed in its Endangered Species Act lawsuit against Tri-State, leading to the transfer of three big cats from the facility to an accredited sanctuary and an order prohibiting the roadside zoo from owning or possessing endangered or threatened species. PETA later filed an additional lawsuit alleging that Tri-State’s failure to provide animals with adequate veterinary care, proper food, clean water, and other basic necessities violated federal and state law. PETA’s efforts led to the closure of the notorious outfit and the rescue of 72 animals—PETA’s largest-ever rescue of animals from a roadside zoo.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.