MUSKEGON — A Muskegon man who was meeting with his parole officer for a previous crime, allegedly told the officer he had sexually assaulted his pet pit bull. Now Jose Antonio Sanchez, 58, of 230 E. Grand, could spend 15 years in prison if convicted, authorities say.

Sanchez was arraigned in Muskegon County 60th District Court last week before Judge Harold F. Closz III one count of sodomy, a 15-year felony.

Closz set his bond at $50,000 and scheduled a preliminary examination for Aug. 17.

According to a Muskegon Police Department report, the alleged assault on Aug. 2 was reported to authorities by Sanchez’s parole officer.

The dog — which was examined by a veterinarian to confirm the assault had taken place — has since been removed from Sanchez’s home and was placed with Pound Buddies Rescue in Muskegon, police said.

According to the Michigan Department of Corrections website, Sanchez was previously convicted in 1998 for a second-degree sexual assault case involving a person under the age of 13.

He was paroled in January 2009, according to the MDOC.

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