WINCHESTER, VA (WBTW) – Tiger King star Bhagavan “Doc” Antle was scheduled for a court hearing Friday morning for various animal trafficking charges.

The hearing Friday was mostly procedural and Antle himself did not appear in court because he was allowed to waive his appearance.

Antle, the owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, is facing several wildlife trafficking charges stemming from an investigation in the state. Virginia officials say Antle and Keith Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Wild Animal Park in Virginia, trafficked lion cubs between Virginia and Myrtle Beach Safari.

Wilson appeared in court, but didn’t have representation, even though the court asked him to get it at least twice before. He was appointed representation by the court.

Antle has been charged with one felony count of wildlife trafficking, one felony count of conspiracy to wildlife traffic, four misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act and nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

Both men were indicted in October by a grand jury in Frederick County, Virginia, along with two of Antle’s daughters.

Antle told News13 in December he took in three lion cubs from Wilson’s Wild Animal Park in Virginia, which couldn’t care for the animals. That park shut down after about 120 animals were seized from it in August of 2019.

The next hearing is set for April 28.

Count on News13 for updates.