OLDSMAR — A 21-year-old man has been charged with animal cruelty after he posted a video on the internet of himself performing sex acts on his Siberian Husky, authorities said.
The investigation that resulted in Monday’s arrest of Christian Stewart Oscar Nichols began on Jan. 25, when someone in another state contacted Pinellas County Animal Services about video and photographs posted on the internet of a man having sexual contact with a dog. Animal services staff notified the Sheriff’s Office.
The video shows a man dressed in a black-and-white Husky dog costume while having sexual contact with the dog, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The dog in the video was clearly in distress, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Detectives tracked the video and photographs to Nichols and went to his home in Oldsmar, where he admitted he made the video with his dog Ember and shared the video on the internet, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Nicols was booked into the Pinellas County jail on one count of aggravated animal cruelty. He was being held there Tuesday on $5,000 bail, records show.
The investigation continued Tuesday. The Sheriff’s Office said more charges are likely.
