UPDATE | Warren youth was also accused of bestiality last year

WARREN — The detective handling a new bestiality complaint involving a youth from Homewood Avenue said the same youth committed the same offense against the same dog last year.

Detective Nick Carney of the Warren Police Department said the 17-year-old was placed on probation after being convicted in juvenile court of having sexual conduct with the family dog last year.

The city’s bestiality law was not yet in effect at the time of last year’s offense, so he was convicted of animal cruelty.

Carney said he could not currently discuss why the boy was able to have access to the same dog again this year.

The boy admitted to Carney on Tuesday that he had sexual conduct with the dog again two times this summer.

He is currently at the Trumbull County Juvenile Justice Center, and a hearing is planned for him today. Carney said the charges he faces this time are misdemeanors, but an examination of the dog is being done to determine whether the conduct caused serious injuries.

If so, there is a chance a felony charge could be filed, Carney said.

Stanley Elkins, Trumbull County juvenile prosecutor, said it’s too early in the investigative process to say whether the boy’s earlier conviction prevented him from having access to the same dog or animals in general now.