AR-News: Sex offender charged with sex assault on dog (Fla)

[Animalsav at aol.com]

Man Charged In Alleged Sexual Assault On Dog

Bestiality Not Illegal In Florida

January 8, 2004

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A West Palm Beach man faced charges Thursday after 
he was caught sexually assaulting a neighbor's dog, Palm Beach County deputies 
said.


Officials said William McPhillips, 50, a registered sex offender, sexually 
assaulted a young mixed-breed dog (pictured, left). Deputies said a caretaker at 
McPhillips' group home saw the attack.

"(McPhillips) noticed he was being watched," said Palm Beach County Sheriff's 
Deputy Cassie Kovacs. "He covered himself with a sheet, and then the dog got 
away, and then she saw (McPhillips) masturbating himself."


Kovacs said McPhillips (pictured, far right) was allegedly sodomizing the dog 
with a spoon, and the dog was yelping in pain. Kovacs added that the incident 
was not the first time McPhillips has been seen involved in disturbing acts 
with the dog and other animals.

"According to the neighbors, he is always walking around with animals, 
kissing and licking them and everything -- cats, animals he picks up in the 
neighborhood," Kovacs said.

Neighbors told Kovacs that at least one cat emerged from McPhillips' home to 
lie lifeless in the grass.

Kovacs (pictured, below) said she was not able to arrest McPhillips for 
bestiality, only for animal cruelty and exposing himself. In Florida, it is not 
illegal to have sex with animals, Kovacs said.
Sex crimes prosecutor Lanna Belohlavek said bestiality was removed from the 
statute years ago.
"Now, it's only a crime if the animal was injured, or if the sex occurred 
before a child less than 16 years old -- its a second degree felony," Belohlavek 
said.

Belohlavek said that removing bestiality from the books might have been an 
oversight when laws were being rewritten.


Meanwhile, animal cruelty investigators said they've had several recent 
complaints but couldn't make any arrests, so they are working with county officials 
to draft a countywide bestiality law.

Animal advocates hope if a countywide law is passed, they might get state 
legislators to do the same.
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There are a number of OTHER states who likewise have NO laws on this.


Mike Rolland
Webmaster, forum moderator
http://www.helping-animals.com