Case Snapshot
Case ID: 18251
Classification: Bestiality
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Wednesday, Sep 1, 2010

County: Lancaster

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Jason A. Menditto

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

When Jason A. Menditto was hauled off to Lancaster County Prison in September after allegedly walking naked through downtown Ephrata, his roommates logged onto his computer.

What they found startled them.

Police announced Thursday that Menditto had stored several videos depicting child pornography on his computer and other electronic equipment, as well as footage of himself and his dog engaged in sexual activity.

The 29-year-old Ephrata man was charged Thursday with five felony counts of possessing child pornography and one count of sexual intercourse with an animal.

Ephrata Police Detective Brad Ortenzi said Menditto did not make the child pornography videos, but appears to have downloaded them. He said Menditto produced the video of himself and the family pet.

Menditto, formerly of West Main Street, Ephrata, is scheduled to appear before District Judge Jene Willwerth for a preliminary arraignment on Jan. 6.

Menditto has been in prison since Sept. 28, when he was charged with three counts of indecent exposure and public drunkenness after being caught walking naked on West Main Street in Ephrata, records show.

After Menditto failed to post $50,000 bail in that case, his roommates called Ephrata police to report "questionable videos" on his computer and electronic equipment in their home.

Police got a search warrant and seized the equipment, then sent it to experts for a forensic analysis. It was returned this week and revealed child porn and the footage of Menditto and his dog, which was not injured, police said.

Court records show Menditto pleaded guilty in 2008 to harassment charges stemming from phone calls and messages he had randomly left county residents detailing his sexual fantasies involving young girls and boys, police said in reports at the time.


Case Updates

An Ephrata man admitted Friday to walking around the town naked last year and also to keeping child pornography on his computers.

In addition, Jason A. Menditto, 29, pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to have sex with an animal.

Police said they found a video of Menditto in sexual activity with a dog.

In all, Menditto pleaded to 12 felonies and four misdemeanors. He faces a maximum prison sentence that would span his life.

County Judge Dennis Reinaker will impose sentence after a background check that likely will be completed within three months.

That check will show Menditto has had brushes with the law since 1999. He's been ordered to county prison on four separate occasions for charges of burglary, assault, reckless endangerment and harassment, records show.

He also has a history of parole violations.

The latest charges relate to incidents last September when Menditto walked on public roads wearing only a shirt that he had pulled over his head.

He tried to flee police after passers-by called 911 but was caught after a foot chase.

After the arrest, police recovered various videos on his personal computer and iPod Touch portable device, they said. One of the videos showed Menditto engaged in sex acts with a dog. Ephrata police said Menditto produced the video of himself and the family pet. The dog wasn't hurt.

Menditto didn't create the pornographic videos but downloaded them, police said.

Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield is prosecuting the case.

In 2008, Menditto was caught and charged for a countywide prank-calling spree. He made sexual remarks to females he had dialed at random, police said. He discussed sexual fantasies involving boys and girls during the calls, police said.

Menditto also would threaten males if they answered the phone, police said.

He eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts of harassment and making terroristic threats. He was sentenced to 3 to 23 months in county prison, court records show.

He's been incarcerated on the new charges since Sept. 28 on $50,000 bail.
Source: lancasteronline.com - May 8, 2011
Update posted on Jul 16, 2011 - 11:04PM 

References

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