HILLSBORO, Ore.- On January 18, 2019, Washington County Judge Oscar Garcia found Kenneth Lijah Duyck guilty of Sexual Assault of an Animal and Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle. Duyck was sentenced to 20 months in prison by Judge Garcia. Deputy District Attorney Sabina Khachaturova prosecuted the case against Duyck.

Detective Jim Berning began investigating the case after the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the owner of a horse stable located in Hillsboro. The owner suspected someone tampered with a horse in her barn and asked authorities to investigate.

Detective Berning spoke with the owner and nearby neighbors and quickly developed Duyck as a person of interest in the case. As the investigation continued, the owner’s daughter, who is a veterinarian, also began looking into the case. Based on evidence found in the stable, the daughter suspected the horse had been sexually assaulted. She conducted an examination of the horse in question and took samples of fluid found inside the animal.

Detective Berning eventually tracked down Duyck to an area Walmart where he was sleeping in a stolen vehicle. He admitted to entering the stable without the owner’s permission. He denied any wrongdoing at the time but did admit to touching the horse’s tail. Duyck also agreed to submit a DNA sample at that time.

Investigators eventually confirmed that the fluid found inside the horse matched the DNA sample provided by Duyck.

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Garcia also ordered Duyck to undergo post-prison supervision for two years. He must also register as a sex offender and complete sex offender and mental health treatment plans.