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Man offers 5-year-old step granddaughter for sexual abuse and bestiality

Saturday, September 28, 2019 11:09 AM

Bestiality is an uncomfortable topic to talk about. Some people believe it happens rarely and that it's a victimless crime. Some believe that anyone sexually attracted to an animal must be "crazy". Practitioners think it's a private sexual practice that shouldn't be criminalized at all. 

But research has begun to demonstrate the among other forms of criminal or antisocial behavior. 

While we still don't know why it happens, we are learning more about how it happens and when.

In July, nearly 60% of bestiality-related arrests involved a child.  

In California, a man advertised his 5-year-old grandaughter for sex acts, including bestiality. In a similar case in Canada, a grandmother shared nude pictures of three of her grandchildren with a stranger online, and chatted with him about her interest in bestiality. 

In England, a man downloaded downloaded thousands of pornographic images of children and animals, as well as a manual on how to have sex with his own daughter.  And in New York, a man is on trial for possession of 17,000 images of child and animal pornography. Among the images were 16 showing the offender having sex with an animal.  

Forty-five U.S. states have passed laws criminalizing bestiality, but both detection and prosecution of cases continues to be limited. Pennsylvania resident Ed Henderson was arrested in 2018 have having sex with a mini horse that was being boarded at his barn. In July, he was found guilty of a second degree misdemeanor and given 6 months' probation. In Texas, Phil Mercon had sex with his neighbor's dog. Prosecutors are recommending he be given a deferred sentence, meaning that if he completes the conditions of his probation the charges will be wiped from his record. 

The bottom line is that bestiality is likely more pervasive, and much more serious than we realize, and points to the need for more in-depth research into the motivations of people who are sexually interested in animals, as well enhanced sanctions against those who act on those urges.