Kentucky attorney general announces prosecution of two people over sexual crimes against animal

Two Northern Kentuckians pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of sexual crimes against an animal, Attorney General Daniel Cameron's office announced Tuesday. 

Nolene Renee Horn, 44, of Bracken County, and Christopher S. Jones, 50, of Mason County, also pled guilty to two counts of torture of a dog, according to Cameron's office.  

A sexual crime against an animal is a Class D felony. Torture of a dog is a Class A misdemeanor. 

“I am thankful to the Maysville Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office for their investigative work, which laid the foundation for our Office of Special Prosecutions to secure a conviction on behalf of the Commonwealth,” Cameron said in a statement. “I am also grateful to the General Assembly for passing Senate Bill 67 last year and ensuring appropriate state penalties exist to address this sort of terrible crime.”

Senate Bill 67 went into effect last June and named sexual crimes against animals a felony. A person is guilty of it, according to the bill, if they "(Engage) in sexual contact with an animal."

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Also guilty is anyone who "advertises, solicits, offers, or accepts the offer of an animal, or possesses, purchases, or otherwise obtains an animal, with the intent that the animal be subject to sexual contact; or causes, aids, or abets another person to engage in sexual contact with an animal." 

Cameron's office said this is thought to be the first bestiality conviction since the passage of SB 67. 

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 22. 

Reach news reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah.