A Jefferson woman has been arrested on accusations of sexually assaulting dogs after police found home video of the woman and her husband with the animals.
Police were investigating allegations of sexual abuse and child pornography related to Sam L. Petterson, 34, of Jefferson when they found the footage. Petterson was arrested and charged in March.
Rachel M. Petterson, 32, was arrested April 14 and released from Marion County jail the same day.
A probable cause statement written by Marion County Sheriff's Detective Ted Burwell accuses Petterson of two counts of sexual assault of an animal, a misdemeanor.
If convicted, Peterson could face penalties of more than $6,000 in fines and as long as one year in jail for each charge, according to Oregon Revised Statutes.
A probable cause statement is a document that provides legal ground for holding a person in jail.
According to the probable cause statement:
During an investigation regarding Sam Petterson, sheriff's detectives and federal agents working together were told that Rachel Petterson had sexual relations with a dog.
The woman admitted to Detective Mathieu LaCrosse that she had sex with the dog but didn't know it was recorded on video.
Deputies found recording equipment that contained still images and video of child pornography and the woman having sex with a dog.
Burwell wrote that two other videos showed Rachel Petterson having sex with a black dog in July and a brown and white dog in September of last year.
Her husband's BlackBerry cell phone allegedly contained images of the incidents; including at least one time when Sam Petterson was also involved in the sexual contact with his wife and one of the dogs, the probable cause statement reads.
According to online court records, Sam Petterson has not been charged with sexual assault of an animal but faces multiple charges of encouraging child sexual abuse and using children in display of sexual conduct.
He is scheduled to enter a plea in Marion County Circuit Court on May 3. Sam Petterson is in custody at Marion County jail.
Deputy District Attorney Jodie Bureta is handling both cases. She said whether either faces charges related to the alleged conduct with the animals will be decided by the District Attorney's Office before Rachel Petterson's next court date. That date has been scheduled May 11.