CT photo by Bruce Bishop.

ELYRIA — Sam Mazzola pleaded not guilty this morning to a misdemeanor charge accusing him of failing to keep proper records of the exotic animals he owns.

Mazzola originally tried to enter a no contest plea during his initial appearance in Elyria Municipal Court, but changed his mind after Visiting Judge John Musson told him the legal ramifications of his plea. Instead, Mazzola will get an attorney and the case will be continued to a later date.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife has accused Mazzola — who owned the bear that fatally mauled Brent Kandra in August at Mazzola’s Columbia Township compound — of not keeping proper track of the native Ohio animals he owns.

Mazzola doesn’t deny his paperwork wasn’t in order but he said that’s because he didn’t understand the paperwork.

Kandra’s death remains under investigation.

Read Thursday’s Chronicle for more on this story.