Judge Ruling 'No Slam Dunk' in Bestiality Case

A judge denied requests to dismiss and suppress evidence in a Harford County bestiality case Wednesday.

"Believe me Ms. Marts, this is no slam dunk for the state," visiting Baltimore County Judge Robert Dugan told the state prosecutor Lisa Marts after making his ruling.

Stephanie Mikles, 46, of the 1500 block of North Bend Road in Jarrettsville, was indicted in April on a charge of unnatural or perverted sexual practice, online court records show.

Mikles, a behavioral specialist with Harford County Public Schools, was moved to a non-instructional position at the central office when the school learned she was under investigation, Teri Kranefeld, manager of communications for the school system, told ExploreHarford.com. She was ultimately placed on administrative leave without pay after her indictment, Kranefeld told ExploreHarford.com.

The charges were leveled against Mikles after investigators found 12 photographs depicting her having sexual intercourse with the family's Labrador Retriever. Assistant State's Attorney Lisa Marts told the judge that investigators believe Mikles' husband took the photographs of her and the dog.

The photographs were found after police seized the files while investigating allegations of sexual abuse of a minor and child pornography made against Mikles. No evidence of sex abuse or child pornography were found.

Mikles' lawyer, Leslie Gladstone, made a request to dismiss the case because it violates Mikles' right to privacy and because the law itself is too vague.

"What this statute does is attempt to legislate a moral issue," Gladstone said.

He argued that no animal was injured and his client is not charged with animal cruelty. He said the activity took place in the privacy of her home. Gladstone went on to say that the law does not specifically outline what an "unnatural or perverted" sexual act is.

Marts argued that the state has the ability to protect animals just as it does children, both of whom are unable to consent to having sex with an adult.

Dugan ultimately denied Gladstone's request, agreeing with Marts that the state has the right to protect the animal just as a child in cases of sexual abuse. He did, however, agree with Gladstone that the law is poorly drafted.

"I'm not here to grade the statute," Dugan said.

Dugan also denied a request to suppress the 12 photographs as evidence.

Gladstone said because the warrant required the images be reviewed in a lab setting and they were instead reviewed by the investigating trooper in her office, that the evidence should be excluded.

"That really was a self-inflicted wound by the police," Dugan said.

Dugan said there was nothing to suggest the warrant would not have been issued without that stipulation and Maryland does not have an exclusion rule.

 A jury trial in the case is scheduled to take place Aug. 7.