SEX WITH ANIMAL ADVOCATE TOLD TO STAY OFF THE WWW

Sex-with-animals advocate told to stay off Internet
An unapologetic advocate of sex between animals and humans was warned by a judge on Friday that he’s flirting with violating the conditions of his release by having others post comments on the Internet for him.

By Mike Carter

A convicted drug-runner and unapologetic advocate of zoophilia — sex between animals and humans — was warned by a federal judge on Friday that he’s flirting with violating the conditions of his prison release by having others post comments on the Internet on his behalf.

Douglas Spink, 42, appeared before U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez in Seattle after concerns had been raised about Spink’s access to the Internet through third parties, including his mother. Spink allegedly had been having others post comments to websites affiliated with bestiality.

Spink is living with his mother after being released from prison after serving time for his 2005 arrest on drug charges. He was given a lenient, three-year sentence because of his extensive cooperation with investigators.

One of Spink’s attorneys, James Turner, of Bellingham, said his client believes that the controversy surrounding human-animal sex is shaping up to be the “civil-rights fight of the 21st century, much like gay rights.”

After the hearing, Spink said he’s misunderstood and maligned, and has never hurt an animal. He said he could sum up his philosophy in a single phrase: “Humans are not the only sexual species,” he said.

Martinez warned Spink that the court could do nothing about his ideas, “but I can control your actions.”

A representative of the U.S. Office of Probation and Parole said it appeared that Spink, who owned and operated a computer security company, was attempting to get around the court’s order that he avoid the Internet unless he agrees to having his computer use monitored.

Martinez told Spink that he understands that rules “chafe,” but that he must find a way to live within them or face another stretch in federal prison.

Earlier this month, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Martinez’s decision to have the government wipe the hard drives of computers seized from Spink when he was arrested at his property in 2009 near Sumas at what Whatcom County officials have described as an animal-sex farm.

Spink was barely out of federal prison on drug charges at the time and the incident resulted in Martinez finding that he had violated conditions of his release by engaging in animal cruelty and eventually sending him back to prison for nearly three years.

Federal agents have been unable to access the hard drives, which they feared contained encrypted material related to bestiality.

The appeals court decided that it was better to be safe and wipe the drives than risk allowing Spink access to any hidden files.

A London man, Stephen Clarke, was also arrested at the Whatcom County property and pleaded guilty to animal-cruelty charges.

He testified that he had traveled from London to Spink’s property to have sex with Spink’s dogs and horses.

Police recovered several hours of videotape recordings of Clarke’s activities, according to court files.

Whatcom County officials waited until Spink was released from federal custody to a halfway house last year to charge him with three counts of animal cruelty in state court relating to the 2009 incident at the farm. Those charges are pending.

Meantime, Spink has 18 months of federal supervision remaining, and Martinez urged him not to mess up “when you’re this close.”

“Then you can be rid of us, and we can be rid of you,” the judge said.

Spink’s troubles began when his car was stopped in 2005 in Monroe loaded with 328 pounds of cocaine intended for Canada. Federal officials said the drugs were worth nearly $32 million, according to court documents. Spink could have faced up to 15 years in prison.

However, he agreed to cooperate and in exchange for his testimony against other drug suppliers and a pair of corrupt Seattle-area attorneys, Spink was given a three-year sentence.

Mike Carter: [email protected] or 206-464-3706

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.

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