Republican lawmaker re-introduces bill to make bestiality a felony

MADISON — A Republican legislator is re-introducing his bill to make bestiality a felony.

Sen. Andre Jacque sent a memo to his colleagues on Tuesday seeking co-sponsors. He introduced the same bill during the last legislative session when he was a state representative in reaction to a case involving a Town of Eaton man convicted of molesting a horse. The Assembly passed the measure but it died in the Senate.

Under current state law having sex with an animal is a misdemeanor. Jacque's bill would make bestiality, distributing materials depicting sex with an animal and harboring or providing an animal for sex felonies punishable by up to six years in prison.

Anyone convicted of bestiality would have to register as a sex offender.