Panhandle ordained minister wants justice for her sexually abused goats
By JENNIFER RICH | Holmes County Times-Advertiser
CARYVILLE, FL
Caryville resident Sharon Cruz-Pecina is trying not to lose hope that justice will be served to an individual she says has targeted her beloved goats for unthinkable acts.
Cruz-Pecina’s love for animals is apparent in her surroundings, as well as her chosen occupations. She concocts herbal supplements for animals and anointing oils at her business “Herbs for Horses”, selling the anointed oils all over the world.
She’s also an ordained minister who runs Heaven Bound Anointed Ministry, hosting small weekly worship services at her farm.
Cruz-Pecina says she found a calling to use healing herbs after surviving a bout of cancer at age 38 and soon discovered sick animals could be healed through anointed prayer.
Among her animals, Cruz-Pecina’s goats hold a special place in her heart. She first acquired goats to milk as a solution to her husband’s lactose intolerance, but she never imagined in all her years of raising them that the goats would become the targets of sex crimes.
“When I go to milk the goats, I check them every day now,” she said. “I milk the goats twice a day, around eight in the morning and five in the evening, and I’ve actually found in the afternoon the goats had been raped.”
Cruz-Pecina said at least three of her goats have been violated “multiple times.” In September, Cruz-Pecina paid a local veterinarian to perform a rape exam on a goat named Lucy. The rape kit was collected and given to Washington County Sheriff’s Office to be processed, but DNA results are not yet available, as rapes against humans have a higher priority, and the state has reported a backlog of rape kits.
The broad light of day, posted “no trespassing” signs, and a surveillance system have done little to keep a man seemingly intent on having intercourse with Cruz-Pecina’s goats off her property. She says she can tell when the subject has been on her property because she now recognizes when her goats exhibit signs of physical trauma.
Cruz-Pecina also claims to know the identity of the perpetrator — a person she says lives about a mile from her property who was charged in 2014 for trespassing and engaging in sexual activity with animals after being caught in the act by a separate victim.
Back in October, the same man was charged with trespassing again after he was caught on Cruz-Pecina’s property.
“He’s not only messing with animals I love, he’s messing with things that have value,” said Cruz-Pecina. The goats themselves are valued at between $175 to $350 each.
“I can’t afford to keep losing quality stock, but it’s not about the money,” she said. “I love my animals.”
Sex crimes against animals became illegal in Florida following a 2007 incident in which a 48-year-old man raped and killed a goat in the Walton County rural town of Mossy Head. According to reports, the suspect in that case was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail for animal theft charges involving a different goat.
The case appalled animal activists and politicians enough to lay the groundwork for legislation to protect animals from sexual abuse. The 2011 Florida Statute 828.126 now prohibits sexual activities involving animals, including the acts of intercourse perpetrated on Cruz-Pecina’s goats.
Sex crimes against animals, at a minimum, are punishable as a first degree misdemeanor. Charges may escalate to a felony of any degree. Cruz-Pecina has called the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to report several instances of the man paying an unwelcome visit to her farm and hopes he will soon face charges.
Evidence is not easy to come by, however. Cruz-Pecina said officers advised her she would need DNA samples or a photo of the man in the act of assaulting her goats to press related charges.
Cruz-Pecina believes the suspect is on her property a few times a week and may have permanently crippled the front legs of one of her goats.
WCSO states it investigates every call regarding the alleged crimes to Cruz-Pecina’s animals and will continue to pursue criminal charges against the suspect when incidents occur.
Meanwhile, Cruz-Pecina hopes something can be done before the subject turns his attention from animals to children or women.
“I want him to get help. People in their normal minds don’t rape goats,” she said.