Politics
Vet ‘sexually abused dogs at animal hospital and possessed sick stash of 1,600 animal and child abuse images’
A VET reportedly sexually abused dogs at a pet hospital and was caught with a sick stash of 1,600 animal and child abuse images.
Prentiss Madden, 40, was the director of the Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Miami, Florida until cops began investigating him.
Prentiss Madden, 40, was the director of the Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Miami, Florida[/caption]
He was arrested by federal agents on Tuesday on child abuse and bestiality charges[/caption]
He was arrested by federal agents on Tuesday on child abuse and bestiality charges, according to local media.
Investigators said they were tipped off after file-sharing service Dropbox told them one of their users had been sent more than 1,600 child abuse images.
The IP address used to access the images was traced to Madden’s house and the animal hospital, according to cops.
Agents raided Madden’s home on February 24 and he allegedly admitted to owning the Dropbox account that had accessed the images.
Cops claimed they found social media messages sent by Madden discussing “sexual abuse of animals and children”, and had shared videos and images of abuse.
Madden also allegedly had photos and videos of bestiality, according to a criminal complaint.
He allegedly admitted to sexually abusing dogs in the chats.
Madden allegedly wrote: “I was keeping a dog that needed a home.”
The animal abuse images and videos were allegedly made at Madden’s home and at the animal hospital.
FBI agent Leah Ortiz wrote in the criminal complaint: “This leads me to believe that Madden may be abusing animals entrusted to his care.”
Madden had previously described himself in a profile on the Caring Hands Animal Hospital website as the “proud pet parent” of a Shih Tzu dog named Lucky and two Burmese pythons, Mocha and Sherbert.
In a statement, the animal hospital said: “Our legal team, and every single member of the Caring Hands family will be doing everything in our power to aid law enforcement and facilitate their investigation and prosecution.”
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They said the alleged offences were “heinous and unthinkable”.
Madden has been charged with possession of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and animal abuse, and faces up to 37 years in prison.
Madden is being held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami.
Investigators said they were tipped off after file-sharing service Dropbox told them one of their users had been sent more than 1,600 child abuse images[/caption]
Madden faces up to 37 years in prison[/caption]
