Man arrested for 'threatening farmers who refused him sex with their animals'

Richard Decker was specifically interested in cows and horse, prosecutors allege

Richard Decker allegedly left harassing messages and traps to damage the farmers' cars when he was refused (Sussex County Sheriff's Office)

A man asked local farmers to let him have sex with their animals and threatened them when they refused, police said.

Richard Decker sent several emails and letters with his unusual request to farms and stables near his home in New Jersey. assistant prosecutor Magdelen Czykier said in a court filing.

Mr Decker would ask for a sexual relationship with cows and/or horses specifically, she added.

When he was rejected by the farms, he would begin leaving harassing messages and left metal tire deflation spikes on their driveways, police said.

Investigators also found explosives and a firearm that he had manufactured himself at his home, despite him not being registered to do so.

Mr Decker’s attorney, Daniel Palazzo, admitted his client had sent letters and emails to local farm owners.

But told the Superior Court in Newton that it was not immediately clear if his firearm worked.

“He never had contact with anyone directly and the explosives were basically firecrackers,” Mr Palazzo said , according to the New Jersey Herald. “They were stored in jars with no intent to use against anyone.”

However, police said Decker had no lawful reason for owning explosive devices and a firearm and argued that he posed a serious risk to the community.

Judge N Peter Conforti agreed and said he was “clearly convinced” that Decker should be detained.

“In my view, there is a pattern of unlawful conduct that presents a danger to the community in the actions of Richard Decker,” he said.

Authorities said the incidents dated back to August 2018, with the most recent one occurring at the beginning of October this year.

In one example of harassment, Decker reportedly threatened to beat a property owner’s wife with a wooden stick.

Many vehicles had also been damaged due to the spikes allegedly left by him, police said.

Decker faces multiple charges, including: possession of explosives, possession of a destructive device to use unlawfully, and procuring an animal in any kind of sexual manner or initiating any sexual conduct with an animal.

He is expected to return to court on 4 November.