4th arrest of bestiality suspect caught through Craigslist

PHOENIX - Maricopa County Sheriff's officials say a transgender Phoenix man was arrested and accused of posting an ad on Craigslist seeking to perform a sex act on a horse.

Deputies took 22-year-old Donald Waelde into custody on Tuesday.

Per investigators, Waelde placed the ad on Craigslist's "Missed Connections" section in early April stating, "I want to play with a horse.  Simple as that. If you have a horse and I can have access to it... I will do something in return."

According to investigators, a person with a genuine interest in horses was disgusted by the ad and reported it.  Undercover detectives arranged to meet with Waelde in the Anthem area.  They brought along a mounted posse horse as a decoy -- that's when they took the man into custody.

Officials say Waelde admitted to placing the ad and his intentions with the horse.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says this is the fourth bestiality case conducted by his office since 2011 where the suspects have used the Craigslist web site in an attempt to find an animal with which to engage.

Waelde faces charges of conspiracy to commit bestiality. MFP