This law prohibits a person from engaging in any type of sexual contact with an animal. An “animal” for the purposes of this crime is defined as a “living nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or invertebrate.”
Under Massachusetts criminal law, the crime of Engaging in Sexual Contact with an Animal is a felony sex offense and may be found at Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 272, Section 77C.
How does a Person Commit the Crime of Engaging in Sexual Contact with an Animal in Massachusetts
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In order to be found guilty of Engaging in Sexual Contact with an Animal under Massachusetts criminal law, there must be strong evidence that a person willingly:
- engaged in sexual contact with an animal or advertised, offered, accepted an offer for, selling, transferring, purchasing or otherwise obtaining an animal with the intent that the animal be used for sexual contact
- organized, promoted, conducted or knowingly participated in as an observer an act involving sexual contact with an animal
- caused, aided or abetted another person to engage in sexual contact with an animal
- knowingly permitted sexual contact with an animal to be conducted on any premises under the person’s control
- induced or otherwise enticed a child younger than 18 years of age or a person with a developmental or intellectual disability, to engage in sexual contact with an animal or engaged in sexual contact with an animal in the presence of a child younger than 18 years of age or a person with a developmental or intellectual disability
- forced another person to engage in sexual contact with an animal
- disseminated photographs, videotapes or other depictions prohibited of sexual contact with an animal
What is Considered Sexual Contact with an Animal in Massachusetts
To be convicted there must have been a Sexual Contact with an Animal. The law defines ”Sexual contact” as:
- (i) any act between a person and an animal that involves contact between the sex organs or anus of one and the mouth, anus or sex organs of the other
- (ii) touching or fondling by a person of the sex organs or anus of an animal, either directly or through clothing, without a bona fide veterinary or animal husbandry purpose
- (iii) any transfer or transmission of semen by the person upon any part of the animal;
- (iv) the insertion, however slight, of any part of a person’s body or any object into the vaginal or anal opening of an animal or the insertion of any part of the animal’s body into the vaginal or anal opening of the person
Potential Punishment if Convicted of Engaging in Sexual Contact with an Animal in Massachusetts
The potential consequences for Engaging in Sexual Contact with an Animal, if convicted, in the Commonwealth may be found at Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 272, Section 77C.
A defendant convicted of Engaging in Sexual Contact with an Animal shall be sentenced to a term in state prison that does not exceed seven years, or in a jail or house of corrections for not more than 2 ½ years.
Because Engaging in Sexual Contact with an Animal is a sex offense, convicted offenders must also comply with statutory sex offender registration and treatment requirements.
If you need experienced Massachusetts Sex Crimes Attorneys that know the area and will work diligently to defend your case, call (508) 213-9113 to schedule a free consultation with the Law Offices of John L. Calcagni III.
