In Munson, Pennsylvania, three men have been charged with having sexual intercourse with a dozen animals, as reported by WTAJ News. According to police, the men had intercourse with at least 12 domesticated animals, multiple times per week over the last four or five years. The animals include nine female horses, dogs, a cow, and a goat, all of which lived on the men’s’ property. Sexual intercourse with an animal is a serious crime. The defendant’s life in their town or city will, of course, be utterly destroyed, even if given a relatively short prison sentence. More common than sexual intercourse with an animal is the charge of animal cruelty, which can involve any type of animal. Certain offenses are penalized more harshly depending on the type of animal. For example, causing serious bodily injury to a police dog is a second degree felony, compared to just a second degree misdemeanor if the dog was an ordinary pet, as per Pennsylvania Criminal Statute 18 P.S.A. § 5548.
Sexual Intercourse With an Animal
Under Pennsylvania Criminal statute 18 P.S.A. § 3129, sexual intercourse with an animal is a second degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of $5,000. Typically, a first time offender would not spend more than a few days or weeks in jail for a second degree misdemeanor. However, when multiple charges are stacked up, so too does the length of the prison sentence. As such, each of the three men are being charged with 1,460 counts of sexual intercourse with an animal. They are also being charged with 1,460 counts of animal cruelty. Due to the sheer number of times that the men allegedly abused the animals, they could be facing life sentences.
Animal Cruelty
Cruelty to an animal, as defined under the Pennsylvania Criminal Code 18 P.S.A. § 5533, occurs when a person knowingly or recklessly abandons, abuses, overloads, beats, or ill-treats an animal. If no injury occurred to the animal, it results in a summary offense, punishable with a maximum 90-day jail sentence and a fine of $300. However, if the animal is injured or the defendant places the animal at imminent risk of serious bodily injury, the offense is upgraded to a second degree misdemeanor. As stated earlier, the type of animal that was allegedly abused has much to do with the type of offense the Prosecutor’s office will charge. If you have been charged for the injuries to your dog while dog fighting, the penalties could include a third degree felony. Aggravated cruelty to an animal, defined as torturing or causing serious bodily injury due to abuse or neglect, also increases the possible charge to a third degree felony.
Call an Experienced Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer Immediately
The Pennsylvania criminal justice system takes cases of animal cruelty, abuse, neglect, and sexual intercourse extremely seriously. We urge you to call the professional criminal defense attorneys of van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim today for immediate assistance with your case.
Resource:
wearecentralpa.com/news/three-men-charged-with-having-sex-with-12-animals/1383391009