Daviess County Attorney John Burlew said a juvenile is facing charges involving a sexual act with an animal. He said it marks one of the few instances where Kentucky’s statute on sexual crimes against animals, enacted in 2019, has been applied.
“I reviewed a complaint filed by the Owensboro Police Department, and by statute, the County Attorney’s office must review any criminal complaints against juveniles,” Burlew said. “In this case, I decided to move forward with the charge of a sexual crime against an animal.”
According to Burlew, the statute defines sexual contact with an animal as “any act committed between a person and an animal for the purpose of sexual arousal.” The alleged act is classified as a Class D felony and was captured on video, providing law enforcement with clear evidence of the incident, Burlew said.
“The video evidence gives us more than enough probable cause to charge and proceed,” Burlew said, explaining that the surveillance footage came from inside the juvenile’s family home.
Despite the severity of the charge, Burlew opted not to pursue an arrest, citing the juvenile’s age and current engagement in therapeutic services.
“I believe they’re getting help at the moment, and I didn’t want to remove them from that therapy,” Burlew said. “Our ultimate goal is to get this person back on the right track and discourage deviant sexual activity, which could otherwise escalate to more serious crimes.”
Burlew expressed concerns about the potential for future criminal behavior without intervention, referencing studies linking animal mistreatment to later violence.
“Kids who aren’t respectful towards animals may be more prone to engage in violence or other criminal acts as they grow older,” Burlew said. “This type of conduct, especially at such a young age, can escalate to crimes involving people, including rape and other forms of violence.”
Burlew said the case would ultimately be resolved through court proceedings, with the potential for an alternative program such as a diversion.
“This individual may end up with a diversion, though the main goal is to correct the behavior,” Burlew said. “I wanted our office involved to ensure any therapy and consequences are mandatory, not voluntary.”
In light of the incident, Burlew urged parents and guardians to monitor their children’s internet and social media activity, suggesting that some behaviors might be influenced by online content.
“Some of this conduct could be learned from websites or social media,” he said. “I would encourage parents to reiterate to their children the importance of respect for animals.”
Burlew hopes the case will remind the community of Kentucky’s animal protection laws and encourage people to report suspected abuses.
“If anybody knows this kind of act is happening, I’d like them to report it so we can address it,” he said.
