Puppy rapist gets 5 years in prison

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A man convicted of fondling and raping his 8-month-old pit bull puppy will spend five years in a state prison, according to the Florida State Attorney's Office.

James Guy Bull, 62, of Daytona Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty to two counts of felony cruelty to animals, misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and misdemeanor sexual activities involving animals, prosecutors said. He was to face trial on the charges.

"The facts of this case are incomprehensible and vile," State Attorney R.J. Larizza said after the sentence was handed down Friday. "The defendant's abuse of the helpless dog shocks the collective conscience of the citizens of the Seventh Circuit and beyond."

On March 18, two of Bull's neighbors came forward, claiming they had seen him fondling the dog's private parts on several occasions, despite cries and yelps from the animal named Coco.

At one point, a neighbor was walking near Bull's apartment when he reportedly caught him in the act of having sex with the dog, prosecutors said.

"When (Bull) saw (him), he pulled up his pants and put the dog down," court records show.

When police arrived at Bull's home, they said they found the small "clearly emaciated" dog chained to a post on the front porch.

"She had about 8 inches of free reign, no water, no shelter and no food for her," an affidavit said. The dog showed signs of physical sexual abuse and was "skittish and obviously afraid."

The dog, now named Rose, is safe in the custody of an animal rescue group.