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Douglas Spink will spend the next 3 years in federal prison and then 2 years of supervised release for violating the terms of his parole for a previous drug conviction. Charges of animal cruelty have not yet been filed by Whatcom County Prosecutors in connection with video tapes depicting bestiality seized during a raid on Spink’s Suma, WA home.
U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez saw fit to send Douglas Spink to federal prison for 3 years, impose an additional 2 years supervised release and 21 special conditions for violating the terms of his parole for a previous drug conviction. Spink was arrested in April, 2010 when federal agents and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office raided his Suma, WA home, confiscating video tapes that depicted Stephen Clarke, a visitor from the UK, having sex with one of Spink’s dogs. Spink’s voice can allegedly be heard on the tape talking to the dog. Clarke was subsequently convicted of First Degree Animal Cruelty for having sex with an animal, a ranked III, Class C felony under
Washington State statue. Clarke received 30 days in jail and was ordered to pay $1,000 to the Whatcom County Humane Society who took possession of the animals removed from Spink’s property and who later was awarded custody of most of the animals. Read more on the background of this story here and more on this breaking story here;
Bellingham Herald
Douglas Spink |
Spink and his attorney Howard Phillips put on quite a show before the judge, attempting unsuccessfully to portray Spink as
an earnest fellow concerned with human rights and trying to stay on the straight and narrow. Allowing Clarke to stay in his home was “a mistake”, and Spink was just a bystander and thus not in violation of Washington State’s animal cruelty laws. But the judge obviously was not buying what they were selling stating “I disagree with your assertion that Mr. Spink didn’t violate the Washington state law,”
Judge Martinez said. “It was his conduct, not his mere presence.”
In addition to the sentence, Spink will not be allowed to have computers, hard drives or software without permission from his parole officer and he must allow inspection, monitoring and evaluation of computers and electronic media. He was ordered not to possess any material depicting or describing sexual contact with animals and is prohibited from direct or indirect contact with animals.
Pasado’s worked to pass the WA state bestiality law in 2006 after the infamous, related
Enumclaw incident, so we are pleased to see justice for the animals abused by Spink and Clarke, but as usual, we’d like to see even more done. Clarke received only 30 days in jail, the low end of the already paltry 30-90 day jail time range that he could have received. Again, since this is a ranked III felony, bestiality is subject to the
Washington State Sentencing Guidelines
and since Clarke did not have any previous felonies, his “serious level” was zero;
The Whatcom County Prosecutor has indicated that he will not file state animal cruelty charges against Spink for allegedly taping Clarke since Spink has already been adjudicated in federal court for violating his parole. Pasado’s feels that Spink should be charged with this felony notwithstanding the federal violations. Another felony on Spink’s record will ensure that if he repeats his behavior, he will be subject to even harsher punishment since this is how the Guidelines are constructed. If you feel that Spink needs to pay for his crimes against animals, please send your comments to speakup@pasadosafehaven.org and we’ll deliver them to Whatcom County Prosecutor David McEachran.
You can use the talking points below as a starting point.
• I am pleased that Douglas Spink will serve time in prison for his part in abusing animals at his Suma, WA property.
• Whatcom County Humane Society and the citizens
of Washington State have done their part to
ensure that the animals taken from his property
remain safe and free from this disgusting abuse.
• The federal courts have seen fit to remove Spink from society for 3 years for violating the terms of his parole and this should be applauded.
• Now it’s Whatcom County’s turn to make sure that the laws we work to pass in Washington State are fully enforced.
• Spink should be charged with First Degree Animal Cruelty, and his record should reflect the crimes he perpetrated against innocent creatures.
• Please file charges against Spink as soon as possible and take a stand for the animals in your community.
Please make sure your comments are polite and professional. Check back to Pasado’s website for updates on this case.
Thanks to all who supported this case and who continue to fight for the animals each and every day. Together we can make a difference!
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