A House Committee Tuesday approved a bestiality bill that would outlaw sex acts with animals.
A recodification of criminal law in 1973 accidentally removed bestiality as a crime in the state, said sponsor Rep. Frank Pignanelli, D-Salt Lake. The result, say Humane Society officials, is that law enforcement officers and prosecutors have to file charges under lewdness or some other public sex offense laws.Because of the shame of the act, many perpetrators plea bargain, and the judge doesn't know specifically what was done, said John Paul Fox, who has been a Humane Society investigator for 20 years.
"The person gets a minimum fine and no help, no counseling. They need some help or will do it again," he said.
Pignanelli said several years ago a man broke into the Tracy Aviary and raped a large bird, killing it. But he could could only be charged with the destruction of property, said Pignanelli.
Under the proposed law, a person convicted of bestiality would get a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. And a judge could order him into some kind of treatment program.