Animal sexual assault
Columbia, TN (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Oct 15, 2009
County: Maury
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» James Michael Tait
» Kenny Thomason
» Christy D. Morris
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
A man who was identified in court papers four years ago as having taken part in a horse-sex party that led to the death of his friend is now accused of performing sex acts with a horse at a Maury County farm.
James Michael Tait, 58, 2348 Double Branch Road, was arrested and charged Thursday with three counts of animal cruelty. Kenny Thomason, 44, 2348 Double Branch Road, also faces two counts of the same charge.
"This is one of the most upsetting days I've ever dealt with," Maury County Sheriff Enoch George said Friday.
Maury County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Nathan Johns said authorities became aware of the acts after a complaint was made by a citizen.
Tait allegedly engaged in sex acts with a stud horse at the Double Branch Road farm over a span of several months, according to an arrest warrant.
Detective Terry Chandler said Thomason was aware the animal-human sex was occurring on the property.
Johns said authorities went to the property Friday and found several animals. A veterinarian was called to check on the animals' health and the horses remain on the property for the time being, Johns said. He did not know how many animals may have been involved in sexual activities or if any were injured.
Captain Jimmy Tennyson said authorities recovered pictures of Tait engaging in the acts with the horse.
In 2005, Tait was identified by police as having videotaped his friend Kenneth Pinyan having sex with a horse at a farm in Enumclaw, Wash., about 40 miles south of Seattle. Pinyan eventually died from internal injuries he suffered from having sex with the equine, authorities said.
Sgt. John Uruquhart, public information officer for the King County Sheriff's Department in Washington, said the investigation in 2005 revealed about 100 pornographic videos depicting Tait and others performing sex acts with animals, including the fatal incident. Uruquhart said essentially nothing was done because there were no Washington laws against bestiality and there wasn't sufficient evidence the horse had been injured.
"The best charge they could come up with was trespassing," he said.
Ultimately, Tait pleaded guilty to trespassing and was sentenced to one year of probation and was handed a $300 fine.
After the incident, Washington State lawmakers banned bestiality and filmmakers were inspired to make a critically-acclaimed documentary about Pinyan's life titled "Zoo," Uruquhart said.
The officer said he isn't at all surprised Tait has been accused of doing the same thing four years later.
"I just want this guy to go away," he said.
Tennyson said Tait remained jailed Friday in lieu of $125,000 bond.
Johns said he did not know how or when Tait came to Tennessee or how he knows Thomason.
Case UpdatesA Pulaski woman arrested in a criminal case involving bestiality and animal cruelty has been indicted. Christy Morris, 35, and James Michael Tait, 58, of Columbia both face three counts of criminal offenses against animals.
No information on grand jury action has been released on Kenny Thomason, 44, another suspect in the case who owns the farm at 2348 Double Branch Road in Maury County, where all three allegedly performed sex acts with animals.
Tennessee's state bestiality law â€" criminal offenses against animals â€" is a state crime, class E felony that normally carries a prison sentence of six to 15 years and/or a fine up to $50,000.
Tait, a longtime suspected producer of animal pornography, relinquished his ownership of the animals, and all were placed in new homes after a veterinary exam.
Persons involved in sex acts with animals can face exposure to zoonotic diseases. | Source: gilesnews.us - Nov 24, 2009
Update posted on Apr 23, 2011 - 9:14AM |
A case in neighboring Maury County involving bestiality and animal cruelty now has a local connection.
According to Maury County Sheriff's Department Detective Terry Chandler, Christy Morris, 35, of Baugh Hollow Road was arrested last week and charged with three counts of animal cruelty. She remains in the Maury County Jail on $100,000 bond and is suspected of performing sex acts with animals on Double Branch Farm located at 2348 Double Branch Road in Maury County, according to Chandler.
"We were working on an anonymous tip," Chandler said of the events leading up to the initial arrests of two men.
James Michael Tait, 58, and his roommate, Kenny Thomason, 44, were arrested in Oct. and charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty. According to arrest warrants, both are accused of having sex with animals on the farm. All three accused were to appear in preliminary court yesterday (Monday).
Chandler said Tait has relinquished his ownership of the animals and all were placed in new homes after a veterinary exam.
"Several horses and three dogs of the approximate 40 animals on the property are believed to be involved in the sex acts," the detective added.
Officials involved with the case said more arrests may be forthcoming, and they are investigating if any money was exchanged. Evidence indicates this behavior has being going on for quite some time.
According to Internet research, this isn't the first time Tait has been involved in this type of activity. In 2005, he admitted to Washington state authorities that he was involved in videotaping people engaging in sex acts with a horse. One of those people was Kenneth Pinyan, who died of peritonitis due to perforation of the colon after engaging in receptive anal sex with a horse.
A documentary film, "Zoo," was made in 2007 about Pinyan's life and unusual death. | Source: gilesnews.us - Oct 27, 2009
Update posted on Apr 23, 2011 - 9:11AM |
Two men and one woman are behind bars in Maury County, accusing of performing sex acts with an animal.
The Maury County Sheriff's Department arrested and charged 58-year-old James Michael Tait and 44-year-old Kenny Thomason with animal cruelty last Thursday.
Christy D. Morris was arrested Tuesday and charged with three counts of animal cruelty.
Chief Deputy Nathan Johns said the men admitted to engaging in sex acts with a horse.
"On Thursday, we had a witness come forward and divulge some information regarding some possible criminal activity with animals here in Maury County," Johns explained. "First of all, it's pretty bizarre behavior and not only a concern for the animals but also the people who are participating in this."
According to investigators, the sex acts occurred at Thomason's 10-acre farm on Double Branch Road, where both men live.
The arrest warrant says Tait had allegedly been engaging in sex acts with a stud horse over a span of several months.
Thomason was aware the animal-human sex was occurring on the property.
"The farm did have a lot of different animals on there. They had horses and goats and dogs and pigs," Johns continued.
On Friday, sheriff's deputies brought a veterinarian to the property to check on the animals' health.
Johns said Sunday the horses remain on the property for the time being.
Maury County detectives said the investigation is ongoing and they are looking into whether anyone else could have been involved.
"It's against the law and just like any other crime, we certainly are going to investigate it," said Johns.
Both men are in the Maury County jail on $100,000 bond each.
In 2005, Tait was arrested in King County, Washington for engaging in sex acts with a horse. | Source: wkrn.com - Oct 19, 2011
Update posted on Apr 23, 2011 - 9:00AM |
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