Case Details

Dogs sexually abused, tortured
Buckeye, AZ (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jan 8, 2004
County: Maricopa
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Charges: Felony CTA

Abuser/Suspect: Douglas R. Burns

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

Case ID: 1887
Classification: Bestiality
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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A Buckeye man is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly sexually abusing and torturing dogs, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office reports.

The sheriff's office said they learned of the alleged incident after a West Valley photo development company alerted them of a potential problem. Pictures on a computer disk reportedly show Douglas Burns, 50, engaged in sexual acts with two dogs.

At least four dogs were believed to have been abused by Burns and are being examined by a veterinarian. They will then be held as evidence by the sheriff's office.

Burns has been charged with at least two counts of animal cruelty involving sexual conduct and torture of one or more dogs.

Burns is married and his wife has been questioned regarding this case.

Case Updates

Prosecutor and Judge contact information for this case is as follows:

Case No. CR 2005 008539

District Attorney Anthony Church
301 West Jefferson, 7th floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602-506-8533
Fax: 602-506-8103

Judge Timothy J. Ryan
101 West Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602-372-3081
Fax: 602-506-2917

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Although this defendant has been sentenced, officials may still benefit from receiving community feedback regarding the outcome of the case.
Update posted on Aug 19, 2007 - 3:55PM 
A Buckeye man who allegedly sodomized one of his dogs with the rubber handle of a mallet in 2005 was sentenced Thursday to jail time, a psychological evaluation, and will also be prohibited from having direct or indirect contact with animals during three years of supervised probation, according to the Arizona Humane Society.

Douglas Robert Burns, 54, pled guilty to one count of animal abuse in 2006 in Maricopa County Superior Court, and the trial ended in a hung jury, according to officials.

Judge Timothy J. Ryan presided over the trial against Burns, and called Burns' actions "off the chart" before sentencing, according to the Arizona Humane Society.

Bestiality was not outlawed until 2006, so Burns was prosecuted under the animal cruelty statute.

Judge Ryan ordered Thursday that Burns be placed on three years supervised probation and have to receive animal abuse offender treatment. He also is not allowed to come into any contact with animals, according to officials.

Burns will also have to undergo a psychosexual evaluation and a sexual history polygraph. Burns will likely be required to report for a minimum 30-day jail sentence on Nov. 2, pending the outcome of the evaluations, according to officials. He may also have to register as a sex offender.

Burns told the court that he "made a terrible mistake," and spoke about the importance of his family, church and life, and how he had endured humiliation and the loss of his job, according to officials.

Burns was arrested in early 2005 after workers at a Wal-Mart store developed a roll of film showing Burns engaging in various sexual acts with his dogs. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office seized the dogs at the time of the arrest, and have since got the pets adopted into new homes, according to the Humane Society.
Source: The Arizona Republic - Jul 20, 2007
Update posted on Jul 20, 2007 - 2:56PM 
Sentencing has been postponed for a Buckeye man accused of having sex with his dogs. Douglas Burns pleaded guilty Sunday night to a felony count of animal cruelty.

A photo developer contacted the Sheriff's Office after reportedly noticing some disturbing images in the film Burns had dropped off.

Those photos along with four dogs are now being held as evidence.

Burns was charged with animal abuse last year for reportedly having sexual relations with at least one of his dogs. However, bestiality was not illegal in Arizona at that time.

Burns is facing a year in prison and up to $150,000 in fines.
Source: AZFamily - June 19, 2007
Update posted on Jun 19, 2007 - 6:39PM 

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