Horses sexually assaulted Agoura Hills, CA (US) Incident Date: Sunday, Jun 6, 1999 County: Los Angeles Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA Abuser/Suspect: Daniel Bruce House Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 858 Classification: Bestiality Animal: horse View more cases in CA (US) Animal was bound Login to Watch this Case

A roadside carrot salesman, Daniel Bruce House, suspected of sexually assaulting several horses was arrested June 6 by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies after horse owners along Cornell Road told them their horses had been sodomized with unknown instruments. House posted bail pending a hearing in August.

"There was a man arrested for, basically, bestiality," said Det. Chris Germann of the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station. At least three horses appear to have been assaulted. Germann declined to discuss details of the ongoing investigation but said the suspect could face felony charges of bestiality according to the California penal code, as well as trespassing and vandalism.�

One horse owner from Cornell Road said one of her two show horses was attacked. The horse owner said she realized something was wrong when she noticed that Buddy, a 9-year-old gelding, had rope marks on his hind legs, where he had apparently been tied up. A horse owned by a neighbor across the street was also victimized.

"When I heard about the male (horse) across the street, I called he vet," she said. "I'm alerting everybody that I know. If a horse shows up with marks on his hind legs, check further." The horse's owner said she does expect that Buddy will return to competition next year. But until the investigation is completed, she rests uneasy.

Another neighborhood resident and his wife own three horses that they keep on 180 acres off Cornell Road with other horse owners. The resident said his horses weren't touched, but that one of the other dozen horses on the property was molested. "One was attacked on our property and molested with implements because there was some bleeding," he said, noting that they had a veterinarian look at the animal. "The horse's legs were hobbled. They couldn't have done those injuries to themselves."

House claimed he never forced the animals and they "consented", yet the horses had rope burn marks, bruises, internal injuries and other injuries. One gelding died subsequently. Mr. House was orginally charged with 5 felony counts of animal cruelty and 5 misdemenor counts of bestiality for his brutal sexual assaults on several horses. One gelding died later of rectal bleeding.

---------BEGIN SHERIFF's DEPT COMPLAINT REPORT---------
Classification: Sexually assaulting animals 286.5 P.C.
Time of occurance: 06-05-99 between 2100 and 0100 Saturday
Location of occurance: xxxx CORNELL ROAD
Type of location: Stables

House, Daniel Bruce
xxxx United Rd, Agoura Calif, 91301
Unemployed
Age 54
Residence phone: 818-828-xxxx
Clothing worn: Blue jeans and black shirt
Station: Lost Hills

PAGE 3 OF 7
499-03323-2212-339

I RESPONDED TO xxxx CORNELL ROAD IN THE CITY OF AGOURA REGARDING A POSSIBLE CRUELTY TO ANIMALS REPORT CALL @115. UPON ARRIVING I CONTACTED THE INFORMANT WHO TOLD ME THE FOLLOWING:

ON TODAY'S DATE, SHE NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OF THE HORSES HOUSED AT THE STABLES (xxxx CORNELL ROAD) HAD STRANGE IN THAT THE INJURIES TO THE ANIMALS WERE NOT THERE THE PREVIOUS DAY BECAUSE SHE IS ONE OF THE CARETAKERS OFTHE STABLES AND VISITS THE HORSES ON A DAILY BASIS. SHE SAID SHE FEEDS, WALKS, RIDES, CLEANS, WATERS, AND CARES FOR THE HORSES INCLUDING GIVING THEM MEDICAL ATTENTION WHEN NEEDED FROM APPROXIMATELY 1000 IN THE MORNING TO APPROXIMATELY 1700 HOURS ON A DAILEY BASIS.

TODAY HOWEVER, SHE NOTICED THAT "MOLLY" A BLACK/GREY QUARTER HORSE (WHICH BELONGED TO V#1 MRS g) HAD A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLOOD PURGING FROM HER VAGINA. DUE TO THE FACT THAT BLOOD PURGING FROM A HORSES VAGINA IS USUALLY INDICATIVE OF AN INFECTION, SHE IMMEDIATELY CHECKED "MOLLY'S" TEMPERATURE AND CHECKED FOR PUSS WHICH ALSO ACCOMPANIES A VAGINAL INFECTION. SHE DID NOT SEE ANY PUSS AND CONFIRMED THAT THE HORSES TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. BASED ON HER TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE WITH HORSES, SHE KNEW THAT ONE OF THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT MAY BE CAUSING THIS DISCHARGE, WOULD BE SOME FORM OF PENETRATION. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE HORSE WAS NOT PREPARED TO BREED, SHE WAS NOT IN BREEDING SEASON, AND THEIR HAD NOT BEEN A STALLION/MALE HORSE AT THE STABLES CAPABLE OF MATING WITH "MOLLY" FOR OVER TWO YEARS.

SHE CONDUCTED A QUICK CURSORY EXAMINATION OF "MOLLY" AND FOUND THAT HER LEFT FRONT LEG HAD BEEN BADLY INJURED AS EVIDENCE BY AN APPROXIMATE 3 INCH CUT ALONG THE KNEE, THE SKIN WAS TORN BACK TO A POINT THAT EXPOSED THE FLESH AND BONE OF THE FRONT OF THE KNEE, AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLOOD DRIPPING FROM IT.

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SHE THEN CONDUCTED A QUICK CURSORY EXAMINATION OF ALL THE HORSES AT THE STABLE AND FOUND THAT "ROSE" A TAN QUARTER HORSE (ALSO OWNED BY V#1 MRS. y) AND "MS. h" (OWNED BB. V#2 MRS. x) HAD INJURIES TO BOTH BACK LEGS BELOW THE KNEE AS EVIDENCE BY SEVERAL SCRATCHES,SCRAPES,SMALL AMOUNTS OF BLOOD DRIPPING FROM THE LEGS AND SEVERE SWELLING.

THESE INJURIES WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE HORSES BEING RESTRAINED OR TIED UP BELOW THE KNEE. SHE SAID THAT HOBBLING A FEMALE HORSE IS COMMON WHEN BREEDING SO THAT THEY DON'T KICK THE STALLION HOWEVER, SHE ADDED THAT THE HORSES DON'T GET INJURED USING THESE RESTRAINTS UNLESS THE HOBBLES ARE FASHIONED TO A POINT WHICH RESTRICTS THE HORSES HIND LEGS FROM MOVING AT ALL.

SHE NOTIFIED THE HORSES OWNERS OF HER FINDINGS. V#l MRS. g RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. I ASKED HER IF SHE KNEW HOW HER HORSES WERE INJURED AND SHE SAID THAT HER HORSES HAD SIMILAR INJURIES IN THE PAST WHEN THEY WERE ALLEGEDLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED. SHE ADDED THAT SHE AGREED WITH THE INFORMANTS OPINION IN THAT BLOODY VAGINAL DISCHARGE IS USUALLY INDICATIVE OF AN INFECTION AND IS ACCOMPANIED WITH A FEVER AND A WHITE PUSS DISCHARGE. AND THAT THE INJURIES TO THE HIND LEGS OF "MRS. h" WOULD INDICATE THAT SHE HAD BEEN HOBBLED OR RESTRAINED BY SOME MECHANISM THAT WAS FASHIONED TIGHT ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE HORSE FROM MOVING OR KICKING BACK. SHE ADDED THAT SHE HAD FILED A POLICE REPORT IMPLICATING THAT SUSPECT APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND HALF AGO BECAUSE THE SUSPECT HAD A HISTORY OF ABUSING THESE ANIMALS.

(IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE SUSPECT DOES IN FACT HAVE A PRIOR CONVICTION FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY AND IS ON SUMMARY PROBATION).

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I ASKED THE INFORMANT IF SHE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THE VICTIMS
STATEMENT AND SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD ALSO FILED A POLICE REPORT IMPLICATING THE SUSPECT BECAUSE APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO SHE HAD ACTUALLY CAUGHT HIM IN THE MIDST OF PREPARING ONE OF HER HORSES FOR WHAT SHE ASSUMED WAS A SEXUAL ASSAULT.

WHEN SHE CONFRONTED THE SUSPECT, SHE HAD APPARENTLY SURPRISED HIM AND WAS ABLE TO WARD HIM OFF THE COMPOUND. SHE SAID SHE SAW HIM RUNNING AWAY AND YELLED AT HIM TO STAY AWAY. WHEN SHE APPROACHED THE AREA WHERE SHE ASSUMES THE SUSPECT HAD BEEN, SHE NOTICED THAT THE GROUND WAS LITTERED WITH ROTTEN CARROTS. SHE SAID THAT APPARENTLY THIS IS HOW HE LURES THE HORSES OUT OF THE PENS AND KEEPS THEM OCCUPIED THE HORSES . IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE SUSPECT SOMETIMES SELLS 50 POUND BAGS OF CARROTS AS HIS FORM OF REVENUE.

THE INFORMANT ALSO ADDED THAT ON TODAY'S DATE, SHE SAW THE SUSPECT AT KANAN AND TROUTDALE WHICH IS A LOCATION HE FREQUENTS.

AS I LEFT THE LOCATION AND HEADED TO KANAN ROAD AND TROUTDALE IN THE
CITY OF AGOURA SAW A MALE WHITE (IDENTIFIED AS THE SUSPECT) SELLING 50
POUND BAGS OF CARROTS OUT OF HIS TRUCK AT THE 4100 BLOCK OF KANAN ROAD
THIS LOCATION IS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE STABLES.
I CONTACTED HIM TO ASCERTAIN HIS VERSION OF THE STORY. I ASKED HIM IF HE
HAD BEEN TO THE STABLES LOCATED AT xxxx CORNELL ROAD AND HE
IMMEDIATELY REPLIED "YEAH, I'VE BEEN THEIR 300 TIMES." I ASKED IF HE HAD
A HORSE THERE THAT WOULD GIVE HIM A REASON FOR BEING THERE AND HE SAID
"No, ANIMAL CONTROL TOOK MY ANIMALS AWAY." HE THEN SPONTANEOUSLY
SAID, "THE HUMAN RACE HAS REJECTED ME. SO I'VE TURNED TO THE ANIMALS WHO LOVE ME."

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BECAUSE OF HIS ODD STATEMENT CLAIMING THAT HE HAD BEEN REJECTED BY THE HUMAN RACE, I READ HIM HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN WHICH HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD AND WAIVED. I ASKED HIM IF HE COULD CLARIFY HIS STATEMENT THAT THE ANIMALS LOVED HIM. AND HE SAID THAT HE'S BEEN HAVING SEX WITH ANIMALS SINCE HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD. HE HAD HIS OWN SELECTION OF ANIMALS THAT WERE CONFISCATED BY ANIMAL CONTROL BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO CARE FOR THEM ADEQUATELY. HE FURTHER ADDED THAT HE HAD IN FACT VISITED THE STABLES IN QUESTION OVER THE PREVIOUS NIGHT CLAIMING THAT HE COULD NOT HELP HIMSELF. AS HE MADE THE STATEMENT THAT HE COULD NOT HELP HIMSELF,
HE BEGAN TO SWEAT AND SAID, "IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO HAVE SEX WITH ANIMALS."

HE SAID HE HAD LAID IN HIS BED AND MASTURBATED BUT NEEDED THE HORSES TO SATISFY HIM. HE SAID HE WENT TO THE STABLES AND HAD SEX WITH ONE OF THE HORSES. HE COULD NOT TELL ME WHICH ONE OF THE HORSES HE HAD SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH BUT ADAMANTLY ADDED THAT THE PHYSICAL ACT OF LOVE WAS CONSENSUAL. HE SAID HE NEVER FORCED HIMSELF ON ANY ANIMAL. I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD RESTRAINED THE LEGS AND AGAIN ADAMANTLY DENIED FORCING ANY ANIMAL TO DO ANYTHING. I ASKED HIM HOW LONG IT TOOK HIM TO COMPLETE HIS ACT AND HE SAID HOURS.

DUE TO THE FOLLOWING:

* THE HISTORY OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON THE VICTIMS ANIMALS.
* THE HISTORY OF THE SUSPECT REGARDING ANIMAL CRUELTY.
* THE FACT THAT THE SUSPECT IS ON SUMMARY PROBATION FOR 597.
* THE SEROUS INJURY TO THE VAGINA IS CONSISTENT WITH FOREIGN PENETRATION.
* THE LACK OF A STALLION OR MALE HORSE BEING PRESENT FOR BREEDING.
* THE INJURIES TO THE LEGS OF THE HORSES ARE INDICATIVE OF BEING RESTRAINED.
* THE FACT THAT THE INFORMANT CARES FOR THE HORSES DAILY AND WOULD HAVE NOTICED ANY INJURY.
* THE FACT THE SUSPECT SELLS CARROTS AND CARROTS WERE FOUND IN AND
ABOUT THE HORSE STABLES.
* THE FACT THAT THE SUSPECTS "CARROTS FOR SALE" SIGN WAS FOUND IN
ONE OF THE STALLS.
* FURTHER SUPPORTED BY THE FACT THE SUSPECT OPENLY ADMITTED TO HAVING SEX WITH THE ANIMALS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS INCLUDING THE NIGHT IN QUESTION.

DUE TO THE AFOREMENTIONED, THE SEVERITY OF THE HORSES INJURIES, AND HIS CONFESSION, I ARRESTED HIM ACCORDINGLY. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE ANIMALS INJURIES AND PLACED IT IN THE EVIDENCE ROOM PENDING THE FILM PROCESSING PROCEDURES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE DEPICTING THE INJURIES TO MOLLY AND ROSE ONLY, ROSE WAS SOLD PRIOR TO ME BEING ABLE TO PHOTOGRAPH THE INJURIES AND MRS. BRANNIGAN COULD NOT BE REACHED. ALL PARTIES WERE ADVISED TO SEEK A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THE SUSPECT AS ANOTHER TOOL TO KEEP HIM AWAY FROM THEIR HORSES.

HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO AND BOOKED AT LOST HILLS STATION WITH THE APPROVAL OF WATCH COMMANDER SGT. JONES.

Physical description:
male, white, BLN hair, HZL eyes, 5'7" 190 pounds DOB 06-10-45
Booking #6081-345
Driver's license# CA M0707843
- Agoura CA 91301

Classification: Sexually assaulting animals 286.5 P.C.
URN# (file no) 499-03323-2212-339
Date: 06-05-99 Between 2100-0100, Saturday
C.H.P.180 submitted: YES
Garage name and phone: Sierra Tow/818-707-
Victim desireous of prosecution?: YES
Victim insured for loss?: NO

Arrested by Deputy Badge # --
Station: Lost Hills
Unit/Car #226
Shift: Days

---------END OF SHERIFF's DEPT COMPLAINT REPORT---------

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