We followed the November 4, 2024, Texas conviction of Joely Keen who was arrested on a charge of bestiality following an investigation into her husband and his subsequent arrest. Unfortunately, the punishment didn’t fit the crime.

Joely Keen received a weak six-month sentence to serve in the Department of Corrections, which is hardly a strong deterrent for her perverse crime. Additionally, without getting a mandatory mental health evaluation and treatment, it is improbable that Keen will do anything but hide any future recidivism. Her dog and the other two dogs at the house deserved better.

Joely Keen was arrested on March 27, 2024, and charged with committing multiple sex acts with her Great Dane. Joely, who worked as a nurse practitioner, was fired, and family members took in her children. 

Joely’s husband William Mitchell Keen was also arrested on March 27, 2024, for sexually touching himself while tailing children in a supermarket earlier in the year on March 13. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department Precinct 3 responded to William’s lewd behavior. When arresting officers checked the contents of his phone, they were stunned to discover dozens of child sexual assault videos and photos, including Joely violating one of her dogs. 

The reaction of their community members was pure shock. They believed the couple were “animal lovers,” even nicknaming William the “Pet Detective.”

We sent a letter signed by 13,204 people to Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon urging the maximum sentencing possible for the Keens including a full term of incarceration, mandated mental health support, and a ban from any animal contact. The letter noted the link between animal cruelty and the violent abuse of humans.

If you’re made as unhappy as we were by this weak prosecutorial outcome, please politely contact the District Attorney’s Office at (936) 539-7800.

Time and again we see that animal abusers also pose a severe risk to children. Child molesters and animal abusers must receive strong sentences. Also, individuals convicted of these sorts of crimes must be closely monitored after release.

We are disappointed at the paltry sentence and encourage judges across the country to wake up and see animal cruelty as a red flag for pedophilia, domestic violence, and elder abuse.

We thank you for your dedicated support of the cases that our Justice For Animals campaign focuses on and your participation in seeking justice and freedom from suffering for each animal we report on.

Learn more about what we do to support animal victims of crime and how you can help. Thank you for caring.