CARROLLTON, Miss. (April 3, 2023) — In Defense of Animals, which operates Hope Animal Sanctuary and the Justice for Animals Campaign in Mississippi, applauds the sentencing of Michael Edward Bobbitt and Christy Bobbitt on charges of bestiality, sexual assault, and aggravated animal cruelty. 

On Nov. 11, 2022, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department served Michael Bobbitt with a search and seizure order, seizing evidence that included a computer. He was arrested and booked at the Carroll Montgomery Regional Correctional Facility. 

Four dogs were removed from the Bobbitts’ property and taken to In Defense of Animals’ Hope Animal Sanctuary in Grenada for care and their adoption into loving homes. 

Michael Bobbitt was charged with two felony counts of “unnatural intercourse with a beast,” a crime with up to a 10-year penitentiary sentence and a single count of sexual battery against his wife, Christy Bobbitt.

Christy Bobbit was charged with four felony counts of “unnatural intercourse with a beast,” and bailed on a $20,000 bond.

Michael Bobbit pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated animal cruelty and was sentenced to three years supervised probation house arrest on each count to run consecutively for a total of 12 years. He was ordered to pay court costs, fees and assessments, as well as $2,760 in restitution to Hope Animal Sanctuary. He was ordered to never have contact with animals. A count of unnatural intercourse was remanded.

Christy Bobbit pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated cruelty and was sentenced to three years intensive supervised probation house arrest on each count to run consecutively for a total of nine years. She was also ordered to pay $2,760 in restitution to Hope Animal Sanctuary, as well as court costs, fees and assessments.

Both have been ordered to never have contact with animals and must wear ankle monitors.

“Everyone deserves to be safe in their own home, and we’re glad to have given that to these four abused dogs,” said Sharon Stone, Operations Manager at In Defense of Animals’ Hope Animal Sanctuary. “Animal abuse of any kind should be reported and dealt with seriously, and we’re glad to have supported the rescue and pursuit of justice for these victims.”

“We commend law enforcement and Judge Alan Lancaster for working hand in hand with animal advocates and showing zero tolerance for abusers,” said Doll Stanley, Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner with In Defense of Animals. “Violence to animals and humans are entwined and we are grateful that the whole community has been considered and protected by the lengthy restrictions placed on the Bobbits. When animal advocates support legislators and law enforcement to pass strong sentences like this one, it deters other animal abusers from striking.”

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Images: https://bit.ly/BobbitPix

Contact: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483

In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign has worked actively with law enforcement, court officials, and citizens of Mississippi for the prevention and prosecution of animal cruelty under existing statutes and ordinances and for the passage of laws that civilized societies should afford their most vulnerable members for 30 years.

Hope Animal Sanctuary was established in Carroll County by In Defense of Animals in 1993. It rescues and rehabilitates around 500 of the Deep South’s most abused animals each year. www.idausa.org/sanctuaries/hope-animal-sanctuary

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in California with over 250,000 supporters and a 40-year history of fighting for animals, their advocates, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in California, India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org/justice4animals

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