MCSO: Online ad leads to bestiality arrest

TEMPE, Ariz. - WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies have arrested two people on charges related to bestiality.

According to Sheriff Joe Arpaio, detectives from his animal crimes unit arrested Tempe resident Scott Brister, 45 and Rhonda Romine, 26, of Phoenix. Authorities say Brister had placed an advertisement on a bestiality website seeking the services of a dog with his "sex slave," later identified as Romine.

Authorities say Brister's goal was to film the encounter between the dog and Romine. Per the MCSO report, "During the email exchanges, Brister and Romine asked if the undercover detective was a cop, showing that both knew what they were doing was illegal."

On July 22, Brister and Romine met an undercover detective at a Tempe motel. The MCSO report states, "Sheriff's detectives brought a seized, abused dog to the meeting which was deemed acceptable to their stated intentions. At this point, Brister and Romine were arrested."

"Once again, this is bestiality case number eleven for my office. These investigations are becoming more difficult because of the 'Zoosexual' community checklist found online." Arpaio continues, "You can be sure, we will continue to make arrests in cases just like this one regardless of their attempts to outsmart my detectives," stated Sheriff Arpaio.

According to officials, Brister was booked on a class 3 felony in connection for arranging the sexual encounter between Romaine and the dog. Romine was booked on a class 6 felony of conspiracy to commit bestiality. Per MCSO, both Romine and Brister admitted to the crime.

The dog used in the case was not harmed.