Sexual abuse of an animal

2025-2026 Bill 5505: Sexual abuse of an animal - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5505
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. J.E. Johnson, Schuessler, Brittain, Luck, Hewitt, Guest, Sessions and Atkinson
Document Path: LC-0384HDB26.docx
Introduced in the House on April 2, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Judiciary
Summary: Sexual abuse of an animal
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

4/2/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 44
)

4/2/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
House Journal-page 44
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
04/02/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
16-15-125
SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE OFFENSE OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF AN ANIMAL, AND TO
PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
A
rticle 1, Chapter 15, Title 16 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:

S
ection
16-15-125
.
(
A) For purposes of this
section:

(
1)
"Animal" means a living vertebrate creature except homo sapiens, whether alive
or dead.

(
2)
"Sexual conduct" means:

(
a)
any act committed for the purpose of sexual arousal or sexual gratification,
abuse, or financial gain between a person and an animal involving contact
between the sex organs or anus of one and the mouth, sex organs, or anus of the
other; or

(
b)
the insertion, however slight, of any part of the body of a person or any
object into the vaginal or anal opening of an animal, touching by a person of
the sex organs or anus of an animal, or the insertion of any part of the
animal's body into the vaginal or anal opening of the person.

(
B) A
person commits sexual abuse of an animal if he knowingly and intentionally
engages in any of the following:

(
1)
sexual contact with an animal;

(
2)
possessing, selling, transferring, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining an animal
with the intent that it be subject to sexual contact;

(
3)
organizing, promoting, conducting, aiding, or abetting another person to engage
in sexual contact with an animal;

(
4)
causing, coercing, aiding, or abetting another person to engage in sexual
contact with an animal;

(
5)
permitting sexual contact with an animal to be conducted on any premises under
his charge or control;

(
6)
advertising, soliciting, offering, or accepting the offer of an animal with the
intent that it be used for sexual contact; and

(
7)
filming, distributing, or possessing pornographic images of a person and an
animal engaged in any of the activities described in items (1) through (6).

(
C)
(
1) Except as provided in item (2), a
person who commits the offense of sexual abuse of an animal, upon being found
guilty, shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned not
more than five years, or both.

(
2)
A person who commits a second or subsequent offense of sexual abuse of an
animal, upon being found guilty, shall be fined not more than twenty-five
thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both.

(
D)
In addition to any other penalty imposed, a person convicted of violating this
section shall be ordered to:

(
1)
relinquish custody of all animals;

(
2)
not harbor, own, possess, or exercise control over any animal for any length of
time deemed appropriate by the court;

(
3)
not reside in any household where an animal is present for any length of time
deemed appropriate by the court;

(
4)
not engage in any occupation, whether paid or unpaid, involving animals for any
length of time deemed appropriate by the court;

(
5)
participate in a volunteer position at any establishment where animals are
present for any length of time deemed appropriate by the court;

(
6)
undergo a psychological evaluation for sex offenders and participate in any
recommended psychological treatment, with any associated costs to be paid by
the defendant; and

(
7)
reimburse the owner of the victimized animal for any expenses incurred for
medical treatment or rehabilitation if the person convicted of violating this
section is not the owner.

(
E)
(
1) Any law enforcement officer
investigating a violation of this section may lawfully take possession of an
animal that he has reason to believe has been victimized under this section in
order to protect the health or safety of the animal or the health or safety of
others, and to obtain evidence of the offense.

(
2)
Any animal seized pursuant to this section shall promptly be examined by a
veterinarian for evidence of sexual contact.

(
3)
With respect to an animal so seized and impounded, all provisions of Section
47-1-145
shall apply to the seizure, impoundment, and disposition of the
animal.

(
F)
Prosecution under this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other
applicable provision of law.

(
G)
The provisions of this section may not be construed so as to apply to the
following:

(
1)
accepted veterinary practices;

(
2)
artificial insemination of an animal for reproductive purposes;

(
3)
accepted animal husbandry practices, including grooming, raising, breeding, or
assisting with the birthing process of animals, or any other procedure that
provides care for an animal; or

(
4)
generally accepted practices related to the judging of breed conformation.

S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on April 2, 2026 at 11:33 AM