Ex-con, kennel owner joins wife in facing bestiality charges

SUFFOLK (AP) An ex-convict and kennel owner in Suffolk has joined his wife in being indicted on charges of bestiality and animal cruelty.

Richard Patterson, 48, was indicted this week on the same charges filed against 42-year-old Christina Patterson months ago, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Patterson was sentenced to eight years in prison in November after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and obstructing justice.

Federal agents investigating his weapons sales discovered videos of the couple having sex with a dog. The Pattersons owned the company Imperial K-9 LLC at the time.

Court documents say the couple had the male dog’s front toenails removed to facilitate the sex acts.

The newspaper report did not include comment from Patterson.