According to information received by way of the Government Records Access Management Act, Cedar City Police were dispatched to an assault in progress. Upon arriving at the home, they found Berrett, intoxicated, and assaulting persons inside of the home who were attempting to keep him from his dog.
According to the police report, the people in the home had begun to suspect that Berrett was sexually abusing the dog when he was intoxicated.
The report revealed that after keeping the dog from him, Berrett grabbed one of the people by the arm and began assaulting them. The other person tried to intervene and during the struggle, received injuries to the neck.
During the investigation, Berrett admitted to police that he has stimulated the dog multiple times in the home while he was intoxicated and while he was sober.
Berrett was arrested by Cedar City Police and transported to the Iron County Detention Facility. He was originally charged with two counts of assault, a class-B misdemeanor; bestiality, a class-B misdemeanor; and intoxication, a class-C Misdemeanor.
On July 15, Cedar City Attorney Paul Bittmenn dismissed charges in the Iron County Justice Court without prejudice, therefore allowing for the case to be re-filed.
“We discovered that he has a history of domestic violence,” said Bittmenn. “We are giving the district court a chance to pick up the case, with the enhanced charges. If they don’t we will re-file in justice court.”
Later on July 15, the Iron County Attorney’s Office did pick up the case and filed on two counts of domestic violence assault, now both enhanced to class-A misdemeanors; bestiality remained a class-B misdemeanor; and intoxication remained a class-C misdemeanor.
His initial appearance was held on July 17, where he was appointed a public defender and his bail remained set at $4,000. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
Iron County Attorney’s Office officials did not return attempts for comment as this report is published.
St George News Editors note: Due to the graphic nature of the crime, certain details were omitted.
(St George News - July 31, 2014)
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