For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2003

Contact:
Martin Mersereau 757-622-7382

Joey Armstrong of Eastbank will face charges in court this morning, April 3, stemming from a December incident during which police allege that they caught him in the act of raping a sheep at a live Nativity scene. Also this morning, PETA fired off a letter to Kanawha County Prosecutor Mike Clifford, urging him to vigorously prosecute the case.

"Anyone capable of this kind of cruelty poses a definitive risk, not just to animals, but to fellow human beings," says PETA cruelty caseworker Martin Mersereau. "Disregard for the suffering of animals should be viewed as a red flag, because people who abuse animals rarely do so only once and will often move on to abuse their fellow human beings. Studies show that offenders who commit bestiality may go on to commit sex crimes against humans. The community should follow this case closely."

PETA is asking that—if convicted and in addition to a period of incarceration—Armstrong undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling. PETA also urged authorities to seize any other animals currently in Armstrong’s custody and to prohibit him from owning or harboring animals in the future.

For more information, please visit HelpingAnimals.com.

PETA’s letter to County Prosecutor Mike Clifford follows.

April 3, 2003

The Honorable Mike Clifford
Kanawha County Prosecutor
Kanawha County Prosecutor’s Office
111 Court St.
Charlestown, WV 25301

Dear Mr. Clifford:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than 750,000 members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. As you may recall, PETA contacted your office in January regarding your prosecution of Joey Armstrong of Eastbank. In December 2002, Armstrong was reportedly arrested after allegedly raping a sheep at a live Nativity scene and was subsequently charged with destruction of property, trespassing, and cruelty to animals. He is scheduled to answer to these charges in court today, April 3, 2003.

Mental health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals, including zoophilia, a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association identifies all forms of animal abuse as diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uses reports of animal abuse in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. A recent study by Jory, Fleming, and Burton shows that 96 percent of offenders who had engaged in bestiality also admitted to sexual assaults on humans. When asked how many serial killers had a history of abusing animals, FBI supervisory special agent Alan Brantley, a psychologist who was formerly on staff at a maximum security prison, said, "The real question is, ‘How many do not?’" Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior, not the species of the victim, that matters (see enclosure).

Upon conviction and in addition to a period of incarceration, we—on behalf of our thousands of members in West Virginia—ask that Joey Armstrong be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at his own expense. Repeat crimes against animals are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers. Therefore we implore you to take every measure necessary to ensure that Armstrong be prohibited from all contact with animals and that any animals currently in his custody be immediately seized. As bestiality offenders often keep animals for their own illicit purposes, it is imperative that, in the meantime, a humane officer—versed in the physical signs of sexual assault—be dispatched to Armstrong’s residence in order to secure the welfare of any animals currently there.

Thank you for your diligence in this matter and for your time and consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly at extension 1506 if you have any questions or if our office can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Martin Mersereau, Cruelty Caseworker
Domestic Animal Issues & Abuse Department