Woman escapes jail time for bestiality

Local News

Discussion

February 3, 2006

By Keith Gushard The Meadville Tribune Fri Feb 03, 2006, 11:01 PM EST

2/4/06 — A Titusville woman has been spared possible jail time for having sexual intercourse with an animal.

Tina L. Smith, 32, of 17 Jackson Way, was accepted into Crawford County Court’s accelerated rehabilitative disposition program Friday by Judge John Spataro for the charge.

The ARD program offers first-time offenders the opportunity to be rehabilitated and move through the legal system quicker. Offenders are placed on probation, ordered to pay court costs and fees, and may have other conditions placed on them. After successful completion of the program, a person’s record is expunged.

Smith was ordered to serve 12 months probation, pay a $150 administrative fee and court costs, and undergo mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations.

Smith was facing up to a maximum of two years in jail and a $5,000 fine if she would have gone to trial and been convicted.

“Anybody involved with this type of behavior ought to have a mental health examination,” Judge Spataro said Friday.

“I lost my job, my home,” Smith told him. “I’ve tried to get employment. It’s very hard with my name after the headlines.”

“We need to get to the bottom of why you engaged in this behavior,” Spataro said.

Titusville Police Department filed the charge against Smith after a methamphetamine lab raid on the Douglas R. Peterson residence in Titusville.

Police alleged Peterson, 42, acted as an accomplice in that he assisted Smith and Heidi McIntyre, 35, in having sexual intercourse with a dog at his residence back on Oct. 4, 2004.

Peterson and McIntyre also were charged and Peterson also faced charges related to methamphetamine.

However, a videotape that Peterson allegedly made showing the incident was ordered suppressed following an evidentiary hearing before President Judge Gordon Miller.

The tape was thrown out because videotapes weren’t included in the search warrant, said Francis Schultz, Crawford County district attorney.

That meant the tape couldn’t be used against either Peterson or McIntyre because they lived at the home that was raided and had an expectation of privacy since the tape wasn’t included on the search warrant, Schultz said.

However, Schultz said he could have tried to have the tape introduced against Smith had her case gone to trial because she didn’t live at the home.

Schultz said he agreed to offer Smith ARD to avoid a trial on the sexual intercourse with an animal charge.

With the tape thrown out, the same charge filed against McIntyre was withdrawn, Schultz said.

Peterson pleaded guilty Jan. 6 this year to one count of manufacturing a controlled substance — methamphetamine — and will be sentenced in Crawford County Court after an evaluation for state intermediate punishment is completed.

Peterson faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $15,000 fine when he is sentenced.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com

Text Only

Local News

Completion of $6.8M expansion marks C&J's 50th year
With its 50th year in business under way — and business continuing to boom — a local high-tech tooling and plastic parts manufacturer appears at the ready for an even higher-tech future.

February 4, 2012
Cochranton Carl says winter will be done soon
So here’s the deal. Some groundhogs — animals christened Marmota monax by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1758 and also known colloquially as woodchucks, whistle-pigs and land-beavers — are remarkably high maintenance.

February 3, 2012
City council hears what applicants have to offer
Seven applicants for the vacant seat on Meadville City Council interviewed with council members during an extended public session. Council members have 30 days to select a replacement for Chandler Mason, who won a place on the November ballot in the May primary, won again in November, and then opted to not take the seat.

February 3, 2012
Second interviews set for two council hopefuls
Nine applications were received, seven applicants were interviewed and two have been asked to return for a second round of talks as the search for Meadville City Council’s tie-breaking fifth member swings into high gear.

February 2, 2012
Next stop Carnegie Hall for Maplewood singer
Michael Miller stands alone on the stage of Ford Chapel on the campus of Allegheny College. He draws in a breath, opens his mouth and, with no visible effort, fills the entire room with the sound of his voice.

February 2, 2012
Scholarships helping women get back in the classroom
“As long back as I can remember, there’s been this little voice inside me that says, ‘You can do more,’ ” Vanessa Shaffer recalled. “I’d done a brilliant job in ignoring that voice — and I was ready to give it an ear.”

February 1, 2012
Plan unveiled that could save more than $20 million
A citizens’ advisory committee recommends Crawford County split almost all of its courthouse functions among two sites — the former Talon Inc. Plant No. 5 on upper Arch Street and the present Crawford County Courthouse in downtown Meadville — and at a 40 percent lower cost than previously anticipated.

February 1, 2012
Cochranton Carl now on Facebook and ready to forecast
As the annual Groundhog Day gets near, one local weather-watching critter is starting to cause a stir on Facebook.

January 31, 2012
DA: Argument shows accused killer's ill will
A verbal argument related to a drug store robbery is what Crawford County District Attorney Francis Schultz alleges led a Linesville man to murder a Linesville-area couple almost two years ago.

January 31, 2012
Accident closes Route 322 in western Crawford County
Route 322 is closed from West State Road/Turnersville Road in West Shenango Township to Water Street in Jamestown Borough, Mercer County, due to an accident that downed utility lines at County Line Road in Jamestown. The road is expected to reopen by noon today, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

January 30, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Lunches provided in schools:

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Woman escapes jail time for bestiality

Lunches provided in schools:

Site Map

Contact Us