November 09, 2015
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had a busy day Monday, cleaning house on a number of pending bills, most notably rejecting an Atlantic City financial rescue package and legislation on voting reforms.
One piece of legislation he did pass was a law that now officially makes having sex with an animal illegal.
The bill amends the previous statute on animal cruelty to specifically outlaw bestiality. Now, engaging in such an act is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The need to explicitly add such a law came after a Moorestown man was cleared of accusations that he molested cows because a judge said it didn't constitute animal cruelty.
That man, former police officer Robert Melia Jr., was convicted of sexually assaulting minors along with his girlfriend and was given a 30-year prison sentence.
