Matthew Parisano, 33, has been arrested after allegedly filming himself performing sexual acts on his dog and distributing the footage online. Police in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, took him into custody following a tip-off about explicit videos circulating online.
Investigation and arrest
Detectives launched an investigation last Wednesday morning (September 30) after receiving reports that a suspect was sharing footage showing him engaging in sexual activity with an animal. Officers arrested Parisano at his property in the 1900 block of Wessinger Lane at around 1pm the same day.
Dogs were seized from the address, and a call was made to the animal cruelty hotline to secure their welfare.
Charges and bond
The Cape Girardeau County Prosecutor's Office has charged Parisano with first-degree promoting obscenity, a Class E felony, and a Class A misdemeanour charge of sex with an animal. He is being held on a $10,000 (£7,570) cash-only bond as legal proceedings continue.
Similar case in Australia
The arrest follows a separate case in Australia, where Aidan Ronald O'Brien, 37, admitted one count of attempted bestiality at Brisbane District Court last month. Police discovered graphic images of him with his pet German shepherd, Penny, and found animal-shaped sex toys and animated animal pornography during a raid.
Crown prosecutor Bianca Rapisarda criticised O'Brien's "abhorrent and depraved" actions, saying he exploited a helpless pet for his own gratification. Defence lawyers claimed the incident was an "aberration" for the previously unblemished volunteer.
Judge John Allen rejected the argument, noting the offence was driven by "firmly held perverse interests." O'Brien was sentenced to two years' probation and banned from having unsupervised contact with dogs.
