A 52-year old St. Johns County man was arrested on charges of animal cruelty and sexual activity involving an animal this afternoon (July 26). The suspect, identified as James Lee Lyons, of 437 Gloria Street, was booked into the St. Johns County Jail.
The investigation began Monday afternoon when a 48-year-old St. Johns County man came to the Sheriff’s Office to file a report. The man stated that on Saturday his family arrived at their U.S. 1 South home just before a thunderstorm. He let his two dogs out to relieve themselves and one of the dogs went to Lyons’s yard. When the storm arrived, the man began looking for his dog but was unable to locate her. The man then observed the suspect carrying the dog from his trailer and told him he located the dog in the shed.
The complainant told deputies that he had checked that shed a short time before. The dog was acting very withdrawn and had sustained injuries to her vulvar and rectal area. The complainant contacted Animal Control who advised him to take the dog to an emergency veterinarian. Following the examination, the veterinarian became highly suspicious for animal abuse and bestiality. Special Victims’ detectives began the investigation and obtained an arrest warrant for Lyons Friday morning. Lyons was served that warrant today without incident.
Lyons was convicted on charges of attempted sexual battery on a child and sexual act with a child while in a familial role in 1998. Following a plea agreement, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison, and was released in June 2011. He is a registered Sexual Predator. Detectives are continuing the investigation.
Florida banned sexual activity between human beings and animals in 2011, following sustained efforts by then-Sen. Nan Rich, the Democratic Senate Minority Leader at the time, and currently a candidate for governor in the 2014 race against Rick Scott. Rich began trying to pass the law in 2009. Bestiality is a misdemeanor in Florida, but animal cruelty is a third-degree felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Geezer says
I won’t even attempt to comment on this one.
Vincent says
I have lived in this community since 1995 and know their are lots of good people that live in Flagler County. Unfortunately, we have to coexist now with an element that can easily be deifined as trash. Perhaps what brought many to this community was that it had a sense of innocence which America once had. That very sense of innocence has been lost in Flagler County and other surrounding areas. Yes, Other cities have crime and a large percentage have way more crime than here, however, the foundation of our area was built upon people looking for a better quality of life after having experienced the type of crime our city now exhibits. The norms of society have caught up with our area and this is not what our law abiding citizens desire. What attracted you to this area? Perhaps disappointment will cause many to look elsewhere.
Ayn Rand's Spleen says
Well, in this case I think florida is barking up the wrong tree.+
Magnolia says
This man needs to have his organ removed. Chop it off, publicly.
Dear God, now my innocent dog is not even safe. You people won’t think this is so funny when he grabs your youngest child.
Sick doesn’t even begin to describe this.
Tracy Opra says
I am the owner of the home who’s tenants dog was abused by this predator. I have created a facebook page “Together Against Predators” Please like, follow and share my page. I am going to do everything I can to make tougher laws! I have contacted the Senator, House of Representatives, Nan Rich ect… Not only do I want to make the laws tougher, I believe there should be a law that a sexual predator would be required to disclose that he/she is a sexual predator when purchasing property. I know the man that sold Mr. Lyons this property and he would never have sold it to him and his co-owner. Lyons will be arraigned on Tuesday Aug. 13, 2013 and it is my understanding he is pleading not guilty (even after confessing). Our Laws need to be changed and we the people are the only ones that can do that! Please help me fight so other animals, children and families don’t have to go through this.
Marc says
Wow. The dog got checked out faster than that poor woman who was raped in Flagler Beach recently.
Freddy says
This article said it happened in St John’s county.
concerned says
What kind of dog is it?hopefully not a small one
Truth Seeker says
I don’t know how to say this delicately but I hope they did a vaginal swab on the dog to get DNA to make sure this man does not get off on a technicality or get to plead to a lesser charge!! This is thoroughly disgusting!!
Mr mondex says
Now this is one sick puppy!!!! I can’t even imagine. LIKE GEEZER said I don’t even want to go there!!
Gia says
What wrong with these americans?
AMOS says
HORRIFIC, He Should be put Away for Life!!!!! Before he gets to Another Child, let alone Another Animal, Maybe the Inmates can get to him, But i Doubt it, The officers have to place him in PC (Protective Custody) & Protect His Sick Self, Imagine that !!!!!!
NortonSmitty says
This guy? I heard his girlfriend is a real dog!
NortonSmitty says
It’s Florida. If the dog was black they would never file charges.
Raul Troche says
According to the Bible that pervert should receive the death penalty. Twice!!!
NortonSmitty says
According to the Bible, we should have our Slaves stone him for us! Twice!!! Three times in the Old Testament because neither meat was Kosher!!!!
RHWeir says
I hope they can nail him for the felony. Lock him up and throw away the key. The man is a total waste and a disgrace to humankind.
NortonSmitty says
Arrest him NOW before he declares his candidacy for Mayor of New York!
susan says
This is truly disgusting People like this should not be put away for LIFE. Stop crowding the prison system with these sick people,just castrate them or put them down like a dog. They don,t deserve to live whether it is a human or animal .
shaking my head says
I wanna vomit. Besides the pedophilia and bestiality of this sick, sick individual, is anyone else shocked by the fact that it took the state of Florida TWO YEARS to ban sexual activity between human beings and animals and that it was only finalized TWO YEARS ago. I’m not a Florida hater, but this is yet another wake-up call that “we the people” need to stop being complacent and get involved.
L.D. Ablo says
I guess he wasn’t kidding when he said his girlfriend was a real bitch.
ryan says
Another pedophile who couldn’t find a child so he had to rape a dog in desperation. I hope no one sticks up for this guy like they did the guy who got sent back to prison for six more years for not checking in. This is why we need self-defense laws for situations that involve people like this sicko, who is a volunteer of violence, and can never be called a victim of it.