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Bestiality is a first-degree misdemeanor
WARREN
Warren City Council unanimously passed legislation Wednesday making bestiality a first-degree misdemeanor, the first such law in Ohio.
Ohio is one of 11 states in America that does not have a law making bestiality, defined as sex between a person and an animal, illegal.
Specifically, Warren’s law says no person shall knowingly engage in sexual conduct with an animal; knowingly possess, sell or purchase an animal with the intent that it be subjected to sexual conduct, or knowingly organize, promote, aide or abet in the conduct of an act involving any sexual conduct with an animal.
While passage of the bestiality ordinance was unanimous, when Councilman John Brown, D-3rd, asked that additional people outside the public comment segment of the meeting be allowed to speak on the ordinance, Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at large, and a couple of other lawmakers objected.
“I think council is prepared to vote without bringing undue attention to the issue. Bestiality is not an epidemic in our city,” Rucker said.
Nonetheless, council voted to permit several people to speak, including Barbara Busco, co-founder of the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County.
Despite that the legislation begins with the statement that “Warren finds that there exists growing problems with bestiality within the city,” Busco said the “legislation in no way reflects on the people of Warren. You are showing you care by bringing legislation to the floor. I ask for passage.”
“I hope we don’t have to use this new law,” said Brown, one of the sponsors of the legislation.
Mayor William (Doug) Franklin said while he believes the city’s animal-cruelty laws are sufficient to protect animals, he nonetheless signed the ordinance into law.
“I believe council acted out of concern about cruelty to animals. This new law strengthens the existing animal cruelty ordinance,” Franklin said.
The issue came to the fore in Warren because charges were filed earlier this month against Salvador Rendon, 61, accusing him of having sex repeatedly with two boxer dogs owned by his daughter at his home on Ward Avenue Northwest. Rendon pleaded no contest in Warren Municipal Court to one count of animal cruelty and was sentenced to 12 days in the Trumbull County jail in addition to the 18 days already served, for a total of 30 days.
Municipal Judge Thomas Gysegem also ordered Rendon to have no contact with animals during the five years of his probation.
Among other things, the new law says that if a person is convicted of committing bestiality, the court may require that the offender pay for the costs incurred by the impounding agency in caring for an animal involved, providing the costs were incurred during the animal’s seizure or impoundment.
However, if the accused is found not guilty, the court shall order the impounding agency to return the animal to its owner, if possible, and return the entire amount of any bond or cash deposit posted by the owner.
In other action, council passed resolutions “honoring and commending” Warren Fire Department Lt. Shawn Peura for graduating from the Ohio Fire Executive Program; and Allyson Crays and Noah Lepola as Warren G. Harding High School Class of 2016 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.