Man arrested for having sex with dog before trashing Nativity scene

He could be sentenced to one year of jail time and a $1,000 fine

A man was arrested after having sex with a dog in front of children, before he ran to a nearby church, wrecked a nativity and attempted to steal a car.

Chad Mason, 36, was arrested for charges of lewd exhibition, exposure of sexual organs and criminal mischief to a place of worship after he was caught with the pup while out on a walk in the apartment complex in Florida.

The Clearwater Police Department wrote in a statement: "On Sunday evening, officers arrested Chad Mason on a variety of charges, including sexual activity involving animals.

"He was seen having sex with a dog in the 2600 block of McMullen Booth Road.

"When he was confronted by someone at the apartment complex there, he ran from the scene and began to wreak havoc in the surrounding area

Mason then left the neighborhood and fled into a nearby church, where he trashed the nativity set up and broke multiple potted plants.

https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterPolice/posts/pfbid02mzdtracns9UzHjAGwcZJAbJhAUSciXwHKSgSAAgrWmBqRT2iB7sv6njvgzsi5cztl

After this, he went to a nearby street, destroyed a mailbox and tried to steal a car.

Mason apparently knew the goldendoodle's owner and took the dog out on a walk before he performed the lewd act, according to Fox 13.

The 36-year-old went on the destructive spree after he was approached by spectators, including a child, while he had sex with the dog.

It is not clear why he then decided to head into the church.

"He entered Northwood Presbyterian Church and knocked over a nativity display and broke several potted plants, before fleeing into an adjacent neighborhood. That's where he destroyed a mailbox and attempted to steal a car,' police wrote.

Police said that Mason caused about $400 in damages for damaging the nativity set and plants.

He was booked at the Pinellas County Jail.

A Florida law passed last year made sexual acts involving animals a sex crime.

According to the statute, a violator can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor and be sentenced to one year of jail time and subjected to a $1,000 fine.

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